How to Eat Fresh Garlic

Garlic is a healthy vegetable used to flavor many foods.

Garlic is a plant consisting of several cloves contained within a papery skin. It is an abundant vegetable in the same family as onions, leeks and scallions. Primary benefits of consuming raw garlic include lowering of blood cholesterol levels, slowing the progression of atherosclerosis, lowering of blood pressure and reducing the risk of some cancers. Garlic is used in many preparations to flavor salad dressings, butters, sauces, marinades, vegetables, meats, soups and stews. It should be stored in a dark, cool and dry place prior to preparation.

Things You'll Need

• Knife
• Cutting board

Instructions

1. Select a fresh garlic bulb from your local grocer. Choose firm, plump bulbs with intact papery skins.

2. Remove a clove of garlic from the garlic bulb. Store the remaining cloves in a cool, dry place.

3. Crush the garlic clove on the cutting board with the knife handle until the papery skin is loose. Remove the skin and set the clove back on the board.

4. Chop the garlic into fine bits with the knife. Wipe any garlic stuck to the knife into a pile on the cutting board. Alternatively, you can eat the entire garlic clove raw, or place the whole clove onto pizza or another dish to cook.

5. Pour the bits of garlic into your marinade, dressing, stew, meat dish, salad, pizza dough or anything you wish to flavor. You can also roast the garlic to flavor breads and muffins.

Tips & Warnings

• Throw away any garlic bulbs that are sprouting roots, which signals the loss of potency and freshness.

References

• National Center for Complimentary and Alternative Medicine - Garlic
• RecipeTips.com - All About Garlic