Hello friends!
Welcome to the Konay Spice blog, your source for creative accessible recipes, spice nutritional facts, and tips to make eating healthier, a little bit easier, and more fun!
Today we will be talking about one of our favorite spices of all time...GARLIC.
Garlic "Allium Sativum", also known as the camphor of the poor or the stinking rose, is a bulbous perennial herb in the onion family. The plant can grow up to 2 feet tall and its bulbs are harvested 5 to 9 months after planting. Most bulbs consist of up to 24 segments known as cloves, and for centuries garlic has been used in both cooking and traditional medicine for its remarkable healing properties.
GEOGRAPHIC ORIGIN
Garlic is native to Central Asia. Today China is the world's largest producer and exporter of garlic, followed by India, South Korea, Russia, and the United States.
HISTORY
Garlic is a potent spice that has been prized for over five millennia and used by virtually every civilization on earth. An Egyptian papyrus from around 1550 BCE features over 22 different garlic formulas for various ailments, and the slaves who built the pyramids were given garlic to sustain them and prevent disease. In ancient China it was cultivated for its stimulating and healing properties. Roman soldiers ate it before battle for strength. In folklore, garlic was believed to ward off vampires and evil spirits.
Although garlic was initially embraced in Greek and Roman feasts for its powerful aroma, it quickly became essential to regional cuisines across the Mediterranean, Africa, and Asia.
HEALTH BENEFITS
Garlic contains a high concentration of allicin which is a sulfur compound released when garlic is chopped or crushed. It is responsible for most of its powerful medicinal properties.
Garlic has been shown to exert cholesterol-lowering actions that lead to overall protection for your heart, including lowered blood pressure. Research suggests that people who consume garlic regularly tend to have healthier blood pressure levels overall.
Garlic is rich in phytochemicals, compounds found in plants that protect cells from the kind of damage that leads to cancer. These same compounds also contribute to its cholesterol-lowering properties.
Garlic's antimicrobial and antibiotic properties help stop the growth of unwanted organisms in the body. Studies show that individuals who take garlic supplements are less likely to get sick, and when they do, symptoms tend to be less severe.
High doses of garlic have been shown to meaningfully improve blood pressure in people with hypertension. In one study, 600 to 1,500mg of aged garlic extract was just as effective as the prescription drug Atenolol at reducing blood pressure over a 24-week period.
Garlic is low in calories and rich in vitamin C, vitamin B6, and manganese, and contains trace amounts of selenium, calcium, and iron. A lot of power packed into one little clove.
IN THE KITCHEN
Garlic is one of those ingredients that amplifies and unites everything around it while still holding its own distinctive flavor. It gives depth to savory dishes in a way that very few spices can. When paired with onion and ginger it forms the flavor trinity at the foundation of most Asian and African cuisines, and if you didn't already know, all of Konay's signature spice blends are intentionally crafted with roasted garlic.
Garlic also pairs beautifully with chilis, lemongrass, black cardamom, nutmeg, toasted sesame, and wattle; making it one of the most versatile ingredients in any kitchen.
MARINADE RECIPE
Just like fresh ginger, garlic is a cornerstone of African and Asian cooking. My mother used it in every single dish without fail. It was her use of garlic that fostered my love for this spice and honestly, I can't cook without it either. So here is one of her many garlic marinades:
- 5 garlic cloves
- 2 tbsp fresh grated ginger
- 1 cup chopped scallions
- ½ red onion
- 1 cup chopped parsley
- 1 tbsp chili flakes
- 2 tbsp apple cider vinegar
- Salt/pepper
This simple blend of fresh flavors is the best friend you didn't know you needed in the kitchen. It can be stored and refrigerated for 2 to 6 weeks just make a batch and keep it on hand. And if you are a fan of bold garlicky flavor, you need to check out our Herb'Ert blend, our signature mix of fine herbs and roasted garlic crafted in small batches to wake up any dish. Every ingredient selected for its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, glucose and cholesterol properties.
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SOURCES
Farrimond, S. (2018). The Science of Spice: Understand Flavor Connections and Revolutionize Your Cooking.
Leech, J. "11 Proven Health Benefits of Garlic." Healthline, June 28, 2018. www.healthline.com/nutrition/11-proven-health-benefits-of-garlic
Northwestern Medicine. "The Health Benefits of Garlic." www.nm.org/healthbeat/healthy-tips/nutrition/health-benefits-of-garlic
DISCLAIMER
This blog in no way provides any warranty, express or implied, towards the content of recipes in this website. It is the reader's responsibility to determine the value and quality of any recipe or instructions provided for food preparation and to determine the nutritional value, and safety of the preparation instructions.
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