How to cook with Black Garlic

Although related, Black Garlic has a completely different range of uses compared to regular garlic. Generally speaking, regular garlic eaten raw is crisp with a very strong, overpowering garlic flavor and has some degree of heat or spiciness. Regular garlic is typically used to add a strong garlicky flavor to pasta dishes, dressings, salads, etc.

Black Garlic when eaten "raw" is chewy with a very mild garlic flavor, sweet undertones, molasses and chocolate notes, and there is seldom heat or spiciness with black garlic. The garlic flavor is subdued to the point that it takes several cloves eaten raw to give a person garlic breath. So what are the best dishes to use black garlic in? While we will continue to add to our collection of recipes for you to choose from, here are some general rules for using and cooking with black garlic. With practice you will learn just how versatile black garlic is, from appetizers to desserts and everywhere in between.

1. Keep it neutral

The flavor of black garlic is most pronounced pureed and added in neutrally flavored foods such as mayonnaise, cream based sauces, tomato sauces, soups, spreads, butters and bread.

2. Bring on the Acid!

Black garlic also pairs very well with all types of vinegar, especially balsamic vinegar. Puree or buy our Black Garlic Puree and add to balsamic vinegar, then make a reduction sauce for stir fry. Add chopped or pureed black garlic to white vinegar with oil for a delicious salad dressing.

3. More sugar, please!

Puree or chop and add to maple syrup, honey, agave, etc. Serve the sweet sauce on ice cream, pies, or over frosted cakes.

4. Give it some time

Black garlic will give the most pronounced flavor in recipes when the food is made a day ahead of time, so plan ahead for potato salad or sandwich sauces.

5. Fix the dish that is "missing something" 

We have all cooked dishes that just tasted like they were missing “something.” And, no matter what is tossed into the concoction, the flavor just seems dull. 

Next time you find yourself facing this challenge, add 2-4 cloves peeled black garlic into the dish. Problem solved! We love to mix it into butter and serve it on noodles, blend it into mayo and top our burgers, sprinkle black garlic powder on our roasted veggies, serve with our egg dishes, or simply stir a 1/2 tsp into our soup. But chefs have gotten quite creative, using it as a rub for meats, an ingredient in ice cream, and in their duck confit!

Easy Black Garlic Ideas To Try!

• Mix black garlic into cream cheese and herbs for a delicious dip or yummy bagel topping!
  Product Recommendations: Peeled or Diced Cloves, or Granulated Black Garlic Powder

• Stir Black Garlic Purée into oil and slather chicken and fish with the paste before roasting.
  Product Recommendation: Black Garlic Purée
  

• Toss a handful of cloves into your favorite meatball recipe.
  Product Recommendation: Diced Black Garlic
  

• Shake onto salads as a topping, or in the salad dressing.
  Product Recommendations: Peeled or Diced Cloves, or Granulated Black Garlic Powder in the dressing. 

• Dip cloves into melted dark chocolate for a sweet duo!
  Product Recommendation: Whole Bulb Black Garlic, Peeled Black Garlic Cloves
  

• Mash cloves into mayo and serve with burgers & chips. The mayo makes an incredible toast or bread spread for sandwiches and burgers, and can also be used as a chip or potato dip!
  Product Recommendation: Peeled Black Garlic, Diced Black Garlic, Black Garlic Purée
  

• Toss a few cloves into your favorite mac ‘n’ cheese recipe.
  Product recommendation: Peeled Cloves, Diced Cloves
  

• Mix pureed cloves into your tomato sauce and use on top of pasta or as your pizza sauce.
  Product Recommendation: Black Garlic Purée, Peeled Black Garlic

• Sprinkle on top of your mashed potatoes with butter and other favorite toppings (black garlic pairs is delicious with butters and cheeses)!
  Product Recommendations: Peeled Black Garlic, Diced Black Garlic
  

• Stir mashed cloves or black garlic purée into your soft butter to serve with steak, or potatoes, or anything else (noodles, breads, sandwiches)
  Product Recommendations: Peeled Black Garlic, Black Garlic Purée
  

• Combine cheese and black garlic for the ultimate flavor win! Top your cheesy pizza with cloves, mix into cheesy potato soup, stir puréed cloves into your queso and top your nachos!
  Product Recommendations: Diced Black Garlic, Black Garlic Purée 
  

• Mix a teaspoon of black garlic purée into a pot of soup for a dose of flavor (a little goes a long way but you can always add more after tasting between half teaspoons), or shake black garlic powder onto your serving of soup like you would salt.
  Product Recommendations: Black Garlic Purée, Granulated Black Garlic Powder