garlic
Can I Eat Sprouting Garlic
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The Phenomenon of Sprouting Garlic
Many of us like to cook and eating garlic seems to go hand in hand with healthy living. Unless you buy it in small quantities at the farmers market every week you end up getting several cloves all at once. If you dont use it for a little while or if its old when you purchase it then youll eventually begin to see green shoots sprouting out of the tops of some of the cloves. So what does sprouting garlic mean
What to Make of Sprouting Garlic
Sprouts tend to be good for you to eat alfalfa sprouts bean sprouts and onion sprouts all have plenty of health benefits. But what about garlic Most people tend to follow the direction of either culture or parenting when it comes to this subject. Namely either their culture has dictated that some dishes work well with the sprouted garlic or else you saw your mother picking the garlic sprout out before using the clove and made your decision that way.
Is Sprouting Garlic Safe to Eat
Some may have heard that it is unwise or unsafe to eat garlic that has begun sprouting. A bit of investigating around cooking chat rooms will show the casually interested that plenty of people have eaten it and despite the bitterness of the taste theyve lived to talk about it.
In my kitchen if there is only a small amount of the green shoot growing from the garlic clove I remove it and use the garlic like always. If the sprout is larger or if there are blemishes in the clove darkening squishiness or a funky smell (beyond the normal one) then I dispose of it altogether.
Some cooks say that the sprout in the garlic clove is indigestible and that you should remove it before using the garlic. This is easy to do. Using a paring knife you simply cut the clove in half lengthwise and remove the shoot from the center of both sides. Some cultures around the globe use the garlic sprout in dishes so aside from the bitterness consider giving it a taste and decide for yourself.
If you are going to boil the garlic then you can probably leave the sprout in tact. The process of boiling the cloves will remove the bitter taste.
What Else Can I Do With Garlic That Has Sprouted
It never hurts to try planting the sprouting cloves in the ground or in a pot so the green tips are just a little below the soil line. After a while you should end up with new bulbs to use provided you properly look after them. You can roast the entire head of garlic and make a spread or peel and mash the cloves freezing them for later. Or consider using the green garlic sprouts in a recipe perhaps a stir fry with other vegetables.
Find more excellent tips on eating healthy the environment and green living at the green blog: Green Eggs and Planet
Occupation: SEO Marketing Project Manager Matty Byloos attended Santa Clara University where he received a B.A. in English. He later attended the Art Center College of Design in Pasadena where he received an MFA in Painting. After teaching city college English classes for over five years he took a position as a Project Manager and Editor for the Search Engine Marketing company called CKMG in Santa Monica California. He exhibits his paintings with SandroniRey Gallery in Culver City and ToomeyTourell Gallery in San Francisco. http://www.greeneggsandplanet.com
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