Chickpea and tomato stew
First, the garlic is peeled and finely chopped, while the shallots are peeled and coarsely chopped. Then, in a large pot, heat the olive oil and sauté the...
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Garlic is a true miracle food that not only tastes delicious, but is also incredibly healthy! Garlic is a ubiquitous spice that can be found in almost every dish we cook, and its benefits are impressive.
Garlic is an herbaceous perennial plant consisting of a single bulb with several daughter bulbs or cloves. The sulfides it contains are thought to lower cholesterol and have antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties. In the kitchen, garlic is an indispensable ingredient that gives many dishes their spicy flavor.
Although the penetrating odor and intense aftertaste of garlic is not to everyone's liking, it remains a popular spice with many culinary possibilities. In Mediterranean cuisine, garlic is a popular ingredient in many meat dishes, such as Spanish-style lamb, where the cloves are used to lard the meat, but other meats such as beef and chicken are also seasoned with a garlic sauce. The aromatic bulb is also not to be missed in seafood, for example in shrimp with garlic or squid in garlic sauce. Vegetarians also get a taste for it, for example in a spicy garlic cream soup, an Arabic lentil salad with roasted sea bass fillet or a delicious vegetarian pizza with garlic-chili oil.
Garlic also combines well with other flavors, such as in aioli or olive tapenade, which would be unthinkable without garlic. It is also a fantastic seasoning ingredient for marinades, vinaigrettes, classic soups and delicious stews. It even goes on bread - either on garlic bread with olive oil or in ginger garlic baguettes.
When using garlic, however, it is important to remove the green stem inside the cloves, as it can make the spice bitter. Fresh garlic cloves are pink, have a slightly moist skin and taste milder. Old garlic cloves, on the other hand, are slightly yellowish, not as juicy and have a sharper flavor that is still noticeable the next day.
Garlic has antibacterial, appetite stimulating, digestive, blood pressure and circulation regulating and cholesterol lowering properties. It is most effective when pressed through a garlic press, but top chefs also swear by the method of crushing it with the peel. Garlic can also be eaten raw or pickled and is available in various forms, such as granules, powder, salt or paste. Black garlic, with its soft, almost jelly-like consistency and sweet and sour taste, is even considered a delicacy.
There are numerous garlic recipes, each with its own flavor and intensity. It's no wonder that garlic has a permanent place in every kitchen, and its delicate leek oils undoubtedly enhance any dish and boost the immune system. So the next time you're in the kitchen, don't hesitate to add some garlic to your dishes.
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