Elephant garlic and regular garlic – two similar looking ingredients that are actually quite different. As a home cook and food blogger, I often get asked if elephant garlic can be used in place of regular garlic. The short answer is no, they are not the same thing In this article, I’ll explain in detail the key differences between elephant garlic and regular garlic to clear up the confusion once and for all
How Elephant Garlic and Regular Garlic Grow
First let’s look at some background. Elephant garlic (Allium ampeloprasum) and regular garlic (Allium sativum) are both members of the onion genus Allium. However elephant garlic is actually more closely related to leeks. It belongs to a different species than regular garlic.
Regular garlic is grown as an annual crop, planted in the fall and harvested in late spring or early summer Elephant garlic, on the other hand, is a biennial plant It takes two years to complete its growing cycle. The bulbs divide and produce more cloves during the second year before being harvested.
The Flavor and Aroma
Now onto the most obvious difference – the taste. Elephant garlic has a much milder, more delicate flavor than regular garlic. While regular garlic packs a pungent, fiery punch, elephant garlic is subtly sweet with hints of garlic. Its flavor is actually closer to onions or shallots than garlic.
The aroma also differs. Regular garlic has that characteristic potent, biting garlic smell. Elephant garlic has a weaker aroma, similar to leeks. So if you’re looking to add intense garlic flavor to a dish, elephant garlic will fall short.
Bulb and Clove Size
As you may have guessed from the name, elephant garlic cloves and bulbs are significantly larger than regular garlic. A single elephant garlic clove can be as large as an entire bulb of regular garlic!
On average, an elephant garlic bulb contains about 4-6 cloves. A regular garlic head can have 10 or more cloves tightly packed together. The cloves are also easy to peel.
So if a recipe calls for 3 garlic cloves, using 3 elephant garlic cloves would provide way more garlic than intended. You’ll need to adjust the quantity accordingly.
Nutrition Content
Despite coming from different species, elephant garlic and regular garlic have a very similar nutritional profile.
Per 100 grams:
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Elephant garlic has 150 calories, 33 grams carbs, 4 grams protein
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Regular garlic has 149 calories, 33 grams carbs, 6 grams protein
Both are low in fat and high in manganese, vitamin B6, vitamin C, selenium. Garlic contains the antioxidant compound allicin, which is thought to provide many of its health benefits. Elephant garlic contains allicin too, though less due to its milder flavor.
Culinary Uses
In the kitchen, elephant garlic and regular garlic are not interchangeable. Here are some tips on how to use each type:
Elephant Garlic
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Roast or sauté to mellow the flavor.
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Add raw to dressings, dips, marinades.
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Use like onions or shallots.
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Substitute at a 1:4 ratio for regular garlic.
Regular Garlic
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Mince or crush to release pungent, raw garlic punch.
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Sauté to mellow and sweeten.
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Roast into a spreadable paste.
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Infuse oil or vinegar.
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Add to spice rubs and marinades.
Can You Substitute Elephant Garlic for Regular Garlic?
The short answer is no. Elephant garlic’s delicate, sweet flavor can’t stand in for the strong garlic bite. If you substitute equal amounts, the dish will lack the intended garlic intensity.
That said, you can use elephant garlic when a milder garlic note is needed. Just use more elephant garlic than you would regular garlic. A general guideline is 4 cloves elephant garlic for every 1 clove regular garlic. Adjust to taste and tweak the quantity through trial and error.
Storing Elephant Garlic vs. Regular Garlic
Proper storage is important to keep garlic fresh for as long as possible. Here are some tips:
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Store in a cool, dry, dark place with good ventilation.
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Do not refrigerate raw whole bulbs. This can cause condensation and spoilage.
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Refrigerate peeled cloves in an airtight container for up to 1 week.
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Freeze minced garlic in oil or water for 3-6 months.
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Elephant garlic may not last as long as regular garlic due to higher moisture content. Use within 2-3 months.
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Look for firm, tightly closed bulbs without sprouting. Soft cloves or green shoots indicate spoilage.
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Once cloves start to sprout, use up quickly. Sprouts become bitter.
Health Benefits of Garlic
Both elephant garlic and regular garlic offer some similar health benefits. They are both:
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High in antioxidants, especially allicin, which can boost immune function.
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Natural antimicrobials that may help fight infections.
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Linked to reducing blood pressure and heart disease risk factors.
Some studies show regular garlic as having stronger medicinal properties than elephant garlic. But more research is still needed.
The Bottom Line
While elephant garlic and regular garlic may look alike, they are quite different in reality. Elephant garlic is larger and more closely related to leeks, with a much milder flavor. It cannot be substituted equally for regular garlic, which has an assertive pungent bite.
Know your Elephant Garlic – Botany
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- It is a hardy plant possessing large blue green strap like foliage and a central rib, and large pink to purple color flowers that usually bloom in spring and summer.
- The plant that bears flower grow bulbs consisting of 5 or 6 large cloves, while plants that do not flower, instead of bulbs develop only one large, symmetrical clove known as a round.
- The mature bulb is broken up into cloves which are quite large and with papery skins and these are used for both culinary purposes and propagation.
- There are also much smaller cloves with a hard shell that occur on the outside of the bulb. These are often ignored, but if they are planted, they will the first year produce a non-flowering plant which has a solid bulb, essentially a single large clove.
- In their second year, this single clove will break up into many separate cloves.
- Elephant garlic is not generally propagated by seeds.
- The plant, if left alone, will spread into a clump with many flowering heads. These are often left in flower gardens as an ornamental and to discourage pests.
Know your Elephant Garlic – Introduction
Elephant garlic, showing how it is composed of multiple cloves
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- Elephant garlic (Allium ampeloprasum var. ampeloprasum) is a plant belonging to the onion genus.
- It is not a true garlic, but actually a variant of the species to which the garden leek belongs.
- It has a tall, solid, flowering stalk and broad, flat leaves much like those of the leek, but forms a bulb consisting of very large, garlic-like cloves.
- The flavour of these, while not exactly like garlic, is much more similar to garlic than to leeks.
- The flavour is milder than garlic, and much more palatable to some people than garlic when used raw as in salads.
- The name comes from its much larger size, being as big as the clenched fist of a man.
- Whilst it is much milder than traditional garlic, the individual cloves are big enough to roast whole.
Taste-Testing Elephant Garlic and Ordinary Garlic
FAQ
Can elephant garlic be substituted for regular garlic?
If you like the strong flavor of real garlic, then that’s what you should use. But if you prefer a milder flavor, then elephant garlic is a good option.Dec 1, 2024
Is elephant garlic as nutritious as regular garlic?
Chemical analysis revealed higher polyphenol content and antioxidant activity in elephant garlic compared to common garlic. Moreover, analysis highlights the variability in the concentrations of sulfur-containing compounds between common and elephant garlic.
What do you use elephant garlic for?
When roasted, elephant garlic is so smooth and mild, you can use as a spread with good crusty bread. Roasting garlic is so easy and so tasty, it makes a simple yet impressive appetizer. I love the way it smells as it is cooking especially on a cold wet day.
Why does my elephant garlic taste bitter?
Elephant garlic is often served raw in salads or sliced and sauteed in butter (be careful, it browns very quickly and can turn bitter).
Does elephant garlic have allicin?
Elephant garlic, like regular garlic, contains allicin, a compound known for its potential health benefits, including reduced risk of heart disease and lower cholesterol levels. However, because of its milder flavor, you may need to consume more elephant garlic to receive the same benefits as regular garlic.
Is elephant garlic the same as regular garlic?
Yes, despite its name, elephant garlic is actually a type of leek, belonging to the leek family Alliaceae. It’s often mistaken for regular garlic due to its similar appearance and flavor. How does the flavor of elephant garlic compare to regular garlic? Elephant garlic has a much milder, sweeter flavor compared to regular garlic.
Is elephant garlic a good substitute for garlic?
Due to the mild flavor, elephant garlic is not a suitable replacement for garlic. Elephant garlic has a milder taste that is closer to onion than garlic. Home chefs can think of elephant garlic more as a vegetable than a flavor-enhancing herb like regular garlic.
Is elephant garlic the same as leeks?
Although a member of the allium family, elephant garlic is closely related to leeks. Like leeks, this plant has a tall, solid flowering stalk with broad, flat, blue-green leaves. However, it is garlic-like in flavor, and just like regular garlic, it yields bulbs made up of cloves.
What does elephant garlic taste like?
Elephant garlic is a perennial plant that gets its name because of its large size, usually about twice the size of regular garlic. With such a large size, you might think it has double the garlic taste, but it doesn’t taste like garlic. Instead, the flavor is much closer to an onion or shallot.
Can elephant garlic be eaten raw?
Elephant garlic plants have flat leaves and sturdy stalks. The flavor isn’t as strong as regular garlic and can be eaten raw in salads, roasted, or sauteed, but it is generally not a substitute for conventional garlic in cooking. Elephant garlic grows in similar conditions to regular garlic.