Tuesday, February 5, 2008

Ingredient of the Day: Elephant Garlic

When I first saw this alarmingly large head of garlic, I was taken aback. Elephant, or “greatheaded” garlic is closed related to the leek, and produces very large bulbs that can weigh up to a pound or more. Each bulb consists of approximately six enlarged cloves. Since these cloves are milder in taste than the cloves found in regular garlic, some people like to eat them raw.

Most people use this oversized, beautiful vegetable just as they would regular garlic. They can be diced and added to any dish to make that dish more flavorful. There is one catch, however. Regular stores do not typically have them in stock. You’ll have better luck finding them at farmer’s markets.

Happy Cooking! Mary