I recently was in the grocery store and came across the most massive bulb of garlic I have ever seen. It was elephant garlic, which I had never seen in real life, but had heard about, so obviously I had to buy it!
Elephant garlic is a type of garlic that belongs to the Allium family, which also includes onions, leeks, and chives. Despite its name, elephant garlic is not a true garlic but rather a variant of the leek species. It is called “elephant” because of its large size compared to common garlic bulbs. For scale, one whole garlic clove from an elephant garlic is bigger than a whole bulb of normal garlic!
The flavor of elephant garlic is milder and less pungent than that of regular garlic, making it a popular choice for those who want a subtler garlic taste in their dishes. The bulbs are composed of large cloves that are easy to peel.
Elephant garlic is much sweeter and milder than normal garlic. So I don’t recomend substituting it for normal garlic. It won’t pack as big of a punch as normal garlic does in dishes like sauces, braises, sauteed dishes. Instead I recommend treating it as it’s own thing and cooking it to draw out the sweetness. I love to confit elephant garlic, or saute as it’s own dish!
Elephant garlic is an impressively large variety of garlic with a sweet, mild flavor Their giant cloves can transform dishes with subtle garlicky notes. However, elephant garlic requires special preparation before cooking
In this complete guide, I’ll walk through how to buy, store, peel, slice, roast, and cook with elephant garlic. With the proper techniques, you can enjoy elephant garlic’s mellow flavor and jumbo size in all sorts of recipes.
What is Elephant Garlic?
Elephant garlic (Allium ampeloprasum) is actually more closely related to leeks than regular garlic. The bulbs resemble giant garlic heads but with larger cloves and a much milder taste.
While regular garlic has a sharp pungent bite, elephant garlic has a subtly sweet flavor. When raw it is less intense than regular garlic. When cooked, elephant garlic becomes sweeter and almost onion-like.
The bulbs also contain just 4-6 oversized cloves compared to the 10-15 smaller cloves of regular garlic heads One elephant garlic clove equals about 3-5 regular cloves
Buying Elephant Garlic
Look for elephant garlic bulbs in grocery stores, farmers’ markets, and specialty food shops. The bulbs are harvested in late summer and fall. Choose firm, heavy heads with intact outer papery skins. Avoid any with sprouts, mold or soft spots.
For the largest bulbs, seek out fresh local garlic from farmers’ markets. These can weigh over a pound compared to the smaller bulbs sold commercially. You may also find individual loose cloves for sale that equal about 3-5 regular garlic cloves.
Storing Elephant Garlic
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Store fresh bulbs in a cool, dry, dark place in a basket or breathable bag. Avoid refrigerating.
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Refrigerate peeled cloves in an airtight container for up to 2 weeks.
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Properly stored bulbs will last up to 6 months. Use bulbs with sprouts first.
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Frozen peeled cloves can be stored for 6 months. Thaw before using.
Preparing Bulbs
Before using the cloves, you need to prepare the entire bulb:
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Peel off the papery outer layers around the bulb by hand.
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Slice off 1⁄4-1⁄2 inch from the top to expose the cloves.
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Trim away any dried roots at the base.
The bulb is now ready to separate into individual cloves.
Peeling the Cloves
Elephant garlic contains very large cloves that must be peeled before cooking. Here are some tips:
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Use fresh bulbs – older ones are harder to peel
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Hold under running water to help remove skin
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Use a spoon to pop cloves out of skins
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Roast first to soften skins for easy peeling
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Microwave briefly to loosen skins before peeling
Slicing, Dicing and Mincing
Once peeled, here’s how to prep the cloves:
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Slice into thin rounds using a sharp knife
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Dice by slicing lengthwise into planks, then crosswise into cubes
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Mince diced garlic into a fine texture with a knife or garlic press
Roasting Elephant Garlic
Roasting mellows elephant garlic’s flavor and makes it spreadable. To roast:
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Preheat oven to 400°F
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Slice off 1⁄4-inch of bulb top to expose cloves
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Drizzle cloves with olive oil, season, and seal in foil
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Roast 40-60 minutes until tender and browned
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Squeeze out the soft, sweet roasted garlic
Pickling Elephant Garlic
For a tangy, long-lasting garlic product, you can pickle the cloves:
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Peel and slice or quarter cloves. Pack into a clean glass jar.
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Boil 1 cup vinegar, 1⁄2 cup water, 1 Tbsp sugar and spices. Pour over garlic.
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Refrigerate 1-2 weeks before using
Sautéing Elephant Garlic
To mellow raw garlic’s bite, quickly sauté minced cloves:
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Heat oil over medium heat
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Sauté garlic 30-60 seconds until fragrant
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Add other ingredients immediately to avoid burning
Substituting Elephant Garlic
In recipes calling for regular garlic, substitute elephant garlic based on:
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1 small elephant clove = 4 regular cloves
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1 large elephant clove = 8+ regular cloves
Reduce the amount to suit your taste preferences for milder garlic flavor.
Storing Prepped Cloves
Once peeled and prepped, here is how to store elephant garlic:
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Refrigerate minced cloves in an airtight container up to 1 week
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Freeze diced or minced garlic for 6 months
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Store in oil in the refrigerator for 1 month
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Pickle in vinegar brine for a long shelf life
What is Garlic Confit?
Garlic confit is a cooking method that involves slow-cooking garlic cloves in oil until they become tender, sweet, and infused with the flavors of the oil. This process results in a milder and sweeter taste compared to raw garlic. Confit is a French term that traditionally refers to a method of preserving food by slow-cooking it in fat. In the case of garlic confit, the slow-cooking process is used to enhance the garlic’s flavor and texture.
The best way to confit is submerge the garlic in olive oil, add herbs, and cook in the oven at a low temperature of 250*F until it is soft and cooked through. Cooking it at this low tempearture allows for it to be sweet, jammy and delicious!
How To Prep Elephant Garlic
FAQ
What is the best way to use elephant garlic?
- Spread on bread or crackers.
- Spread on a sandwich.
- Make a puree out of them.
- Use on charcuterie boards.
- Blend into sauces.
- Pizza toppings.
What part of elephant garlic is edible?
A particular culinary delicacy are the scapes of the Elephant Garlic plant. These immature green plant tops are incredibly tender and sweet – like asparagus, only better!
How do you process elephant garlic?
Once you’ve harvested the bulbs, get them out of the direct sunlight right away. Brush off the soil, but don’t wash the roots, since you’ll need to cure them later. Depending on the ambient humidity, you’ll need to cure your elephant garlic for 3-8 weeks in a cool, dark, dry place before storage.
Can I use elephant garlic in place of regular garlic?
Elephant garlic is in the leek family, but does have a mild garlic flavor. You can use it just as you would garlic.
How do you cook elephant garlic?
Preheat the oven. Start by preheating your oven to about 400 degrees. Next, prepare your garlic. I typically roast a whole head of elephant garlic in the oven at once. Start by slicing off the top of the head and set it aside. You want to be able to see the exposed cloves for two reasons.
How do you roast a whole head of elephant garlic?
I typically roast a whole head of elephant garlic in the oven at once. Start by slicing off the top of the head and set it aside. You want to be able to see the exposed cloves for two reasons. First, so that the cloves roast evenly so check around the garlic to make sure there are no small ones hiding out on the sides.
How do you use elephant garlic?
You can use it chopped or minced, or even shaved thinly directly into a dish, or over the top of a salad. Since T-Hubs isn’t quite so big a fan of garlic as I am, elephant garlic can sometimes make a happy medium we both enjoy. You can even use it in combination with regular garlic to find the right amount of flavor for you.
Is elephant garlic a real garlic?
Elephant garlic is not true garlic but a type of perennial bulb closely related to leeks. It has a milder flavor compared to regular garlic and produces large, impressive cloves that are ideal for roasting. How Long To Roast Elephant Garlic?
What to do with roasted elephant garlic?
A splash or olive oil and seasoning is all you need to cook mild, tender garlic that can easily be spread onto bread or used as a side dish. Although roasted elephant garlic isn’t packed with flavor, it can also be used in soups and sauces to add depth of flavor.
How many cloves does elephant garlic have?
While regular garlic bulbs are small with multiple cloves, elephant garlic produces a significantly larger bulb, typically with only about four to six cloves each. Roasting elephant garlic amplifies its sweetness and less pungent taste, making it an excellent addition to a variety of dishes.