What does Black Garlic taste like and how do you use it? It’s easier than you think to add this unique flavor to your favorite recipes, from pasta to steak.
Forget everything you know about garlic. A unique aging process transforms a sharp, pungent head of raw garlic into mild, sweet (and squishy) cloves. While Black Garlic isn’t a substitute for raw garlic, it can impart rich, umami flavor into many of the same dishes as minced garlic…or just as a tasty treat.
Garlic has been popular as a culinary ingredient dating back to Ancient Egypt and is used in almost every cuisine worldwide. You can probably imagine the scent and flavor of garlic. So, let’s start with what Black Garlic is not. It’s not a specific type or variety of garlic. It’s not roasted or cooked garlic. And it’s not made with additives (or culinary magic!).
There is no true substitution for black garlic since there is nothing really like it, but the closest thing I found to substituting it is using a balsamic vinegar reduction. When you boil balsamic vinegar to a thick syrupy consistency, balsamic vinegar turns sweet and has a similar flavor to black garlic.
What is So Special About Black Garlic?
Black Garlic is one-of-a-kind. The flavor of Black Garlic is unlike any other garlic. It’s sweeter than roasted garlic and has a mellower flavor. Additionally, Black Garlic has a soft, sticky texture that can be challenging to work with – which is part of the reason we created Black Garlic Salt…but more on that later.
Do You Peel Black Garlic?
Yes. Just like with raw garlic, the skin surrounding the garlic cloves isn’t something you want to eat. The skin is easily distinguished by its papery quality and is easy to remove.
Black vs Regular GARLIC – What’s the difference?
FAQ
What can I substitute for black garlic?
What flavor does black garlic add?
What’s the difference between black garlic and regular garlic?
How to make black garlic at home easily?
What can I use instead of fresh garlic?
Take a small taste before adding garlic paste to your recipe. We recommend using 1 teaspoon of the paste for each clove of garlic. It dissolves easily, making it excellent for whisking into marinades, soups, and dressings. Frozen garlic: These golden cubes of goodness are one of our favorite substitutes for fresh garlic.
Are garlic pills as effective as fresh garlic?
The literature does not present data identifying if garlic pills offer similar benefits as fresh garlic. It is recommended to have variety within one’s diet to gain nutritional benefits from different foods including garlic.
What can I use instead of minced garlic?
You can pretty much use this garlic substitute anywhere you would regular minced garlic — it doesn’t need to be cooked, and can be used in raw applications like salad dressings. Garlic paste: Garlic paste is usually sold in tubes and contains both salt and oil to preserve the garlic and make it squeezable.
Can black garlic be subbed for roasted garlic?
Because of its mellow flavor, black garlic can easily be subbed for roasted garlic too. Try it in a Roasted Garlic Mashed Potatoes with Buttermilk recipe or in this Roasted Garlic-Parmesan Cream Sauce. Note that in recipes calling for roasted garlic, you can skip the actual roasting step, since black garlic has already been heated.