HOME GROWN
Garlic
A timeless and medicinal flavoring BY PAMELA MARQUIS
1 USE Cultivated for the distinct flavor of its bulb, garlic is a robust and frequently used ingredient in almost everyone’s kitchen. Additionally, it has many medicinal applications, especially for regulating blood pressure.
2 LEARN Garlic is in the same family as onions, chives, shallots and leeks. It is one of the oldest food flavorings. Archaeological records show that garlic was used even in Neolithic times.
3 GROW To grow successfully, be sure to add a lot of organic matter, such as compost or well-aged manure, to your soil. Separate the garlic bulb into individual cloves.Then plant the cloves about an inch deep. The fatter end should be at the bottom of the hole. Your garlic is ready to harvest once their leaves turn brown.
4 ROAST Roasting garlic is one of the most delicious ways to enjoy it. This process mellows the pungency of the bulb and releases natural sugars, giving it a rich caramel flavour.
5 LAGNIAPPE But don’t forget about garlic scapes — the first tender green shoots. Scapes add a delicate garlic flavor to salads, soups and sauces. Once you’ve tried these delicacies, they will become a favorite addition to your culinary arsenal.
28 SUMMER 2021
