User:Markthegarlic
Elephant Garlic
We have always loved cooking with garlic. To diversify on our farm we decided to start growing Elephant Garlic as it was by far our favourite. After a lot of hard work and patience, here we are today Farming Garlic in West Dorset. If you haven't been lucky enough to try Elephant Garlic,it's sweeter,nuttier and less pungent than normal garlic,making it much more versatile in the kitchen. Elephant Garlic is a pleasure to grow as the bulbs can grow up to 800 grams in weight and as tall as 1.5 metres, with a lovely pink flower.
What Is Elephant Garlic?
Elephant garlic develops a large underground bulb that can weigh as much as 850 grams hence its name.
Its flavor is milder nutty and sweeter than other garlic.
Top tips for growing garlic
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elephant_garlic
.1.Suitable for Autumn planting I am starting mine off in September / October but I could wait as late as February.
.2.Cover the individual cloves with one to two inches of soil over the top of the clove.
.3.Give each plant space to grow, 8"-10" inches plus.
.4.Garlic responds to well dug soil with adequate amounts of phosphate and potash.
.5.Sulphate of potash will help protect against rust disease the main problem with garlics.
.6.Never let the plants run dry until a couple of weeks before harvest.
.7.As harvest approaches lift the head with their green leaves.
.8.Hang is a warm dry area with all the leaves attached until there is no moisture in the necks.
.9.Store in a warm, dry place, a cool place will encourage the cloves to sprout.
How to cook Roasted Elephant Garlic
.1. Preheat the oven to 400°F. .2. Peel away the outer layers of the garlic bulb skin, leaving the skins of the individual cloves intact. Using a knife, cut off 1/4 to a 1/2 inch of the top of cloves, exposing the individual cloves of garlic. .3. Place the garlic heads in a baking tray . Drizzle a couple teaspoons of olive oil over each head, using your fingers to make sure the garlic head is well coated. Cover with aluminum foil. Bake at 400°F for 30-35 minutes, or until the cloves feel soft when pressed. .4. Allow the garlic to cool enough so you can touch it without burning yourself. Use a small small knife cut the skin slightly around each clove. Use a cocktail fork or your fingers to pull or squeeze the roasted garlic cloves out of their skins. Eat as is (I love straight roasted garlic) or mash with a fork and use for cooking. Can be spread over warm French bread, mixed with sour cream for a topping for baked potatoes, or mixed in with Parmesan and pasta. Your Roasted elephant garlic recipe is ready now.
Photographs of Elephant Garlic throughout the year