A Vegan Guide To Cooking With Garlic

A clove or two of garlic is one of the fundamental base ingredients in many cuisines, but how much do we really know about it? 

What is garlic

Garlic grows in bulbs in the ground as is part of the genus Allium and very closely related to onions, leeks, chives and shallots. It’s native to Central Asia but isn’t out of place in recipes and kitchens across the globe. 

Health benefits of garlic

Whilst garlic might not be the most conducive to great breath, it’s got some fantastic natural properties. It can help boost the immune system, even fighting the common cold; it can reduce blood pressure and even lower levels of cholesterol leading to a reduced risk of heart disease. 

Garlic is also nutrient-dense but very low in calories, in fact, it contains a little bit of everything our bodies need. It has high volumes of: 

• Manganese
• Vitamin B6
• Vitamin C
• Selenium
• Fibre
• And significant levels of calcium, copper, potassium, phosphorus, iron and vitamin B1

All of which help keep us fighting fit and functioning normally. 

How to cook using garlic

We appreciate that strong flavours of garlic might not be to everyone’s tastes, but a small amount can go a long way and help enhance the flavours of other ingredients too.  

Chilli and garlic oil

We can’t get enough of Aliza’s chilli and garlic oil; we add it to pretty much everything we cook. It’s vibrant, flavourful, spicy and ideas for drizzling, dipping and cooking with.

Spiced carrot soup with garlic oil

This is another great example of how great garlic is at giving its flavour over to oil. This warming soup recipe from Val is velvety smooth, sweet, slightly spiced and packed with flavour.

Vegan garlic mayo mushroom wraps

We love vegan garlic mayo, and this recipe from Aliza makes it really sing. It’s the perfect idea for a Saturday afternoon or even a working-from-home lunch. It’s jam-packed with sautéed portobello mushrooms, fresh veg and, of course, coated with spicy garlic mayo.

Vegan garlic bread

How could this one miss out on the list? We can’t get enough of Val’s vegan garlic bread recipe. It’s the perfect accompaniment to virtually any dish or works wonderfully as a stand-alone indulgent snack.