Write: Tomás Franco. Author of Manual for Spices
The dried bulbs of the different varieties of allium sativum They are used as a spice for dehydrated garlic. You can find them in the trade in the form of slices, crushed or ground to fine powder. Approximately one kilo is equivalent to three kilograms of fresh garlic.
These garlic bulbs are harvested at the beginning of the summer (June), when the leaves begin to dry out. The dried garlic is peeled, washed and cut into 'slices' to dry at a maximum temperature of 60º C. They are then crushed or ground.
Nutritional composition
| Energy (kJ / 100 g) | 1549 |
| Energy (kcal / 100 g) | 365 |
| Carbohydrates (g / 100 g) | 72,7 |
| Sugars (g / 100 g) | 2,4 |
| Total fat (g / 100 g) | 0,8 |
| Saturated fat (g / 100 g) | 0,2 |
| Monounsaturated fat (g / 100 g) | 0,1 |
| Polyunsaturated fat (g / 100 g) | 0,3 |
| Proteins (g / 100 g) | 16,7 |
| MINERALS | |
| Calcium (Ca) (mg / 100 g) | 80 |
| Phosphorus (P) (mg / 100 g) | 416 |
| Iron (Fe) (mg / 100 g) | 4 |
| Magnesium (Mg) (mg / 100 g) | 68 |
| Potassium (K) (mg / 100 g) | 1147 |
| Selenium (Se) (mg / 100 g) | 38 |
| Sodium (Na) (mg / 100 g) | 43 |
| Zinc (Zn) (mg / 100 g) | 3 |
| VITAMINS | |
| Vit. B1 (thiamine) (mg / 100 g) | 0,5 |
| Vit. B2 (riboflavin) (mg / 100 g) | 0,2 |
| Vit. B3 (niacin) (mg / 100g) | 0,7 |
| Vit. B6 (pyridoxine) (mg / 100 g) | 2,3 |
| Vit. C (ascorbic acid) (mg / 100 g) | 9,6 |
| Vit. E (tocopherol) (mg / 100 g) | 0,6 |
| Vit. K (μg / 100 g) | 0,2 |
Dehydrated garlic in the kitchen
It has infinite uses as a condiment for meats, fish, vegetables, salads, soups and sauces. In stews it is preferable to use the whole teeth and separate them before serving, as in stews. Prepare Aioli sauce for boiled, roasted potatoes or any other format it is also ideal. Congenia with all kitchen herbs and spices, a small amount of dehydrated garlic reinforces the other flavors.
El big drawback consumption of raw garlic is its unpleasant smell once digested, because that smell is given off by the breath, sweat, and urine. With the dehydrated garlic, yes, these effects are reduced. Although not because of this problem you should stop consuming this spice, since it has healthy properties, as you will see below.
Aioli sauce
Ingredients:
- 4 peeled garlic cloves
- 200 ml oil
- 1 egg yolk
- shawl
Preparation:
- Crush the peeled garlic cloves in a mortar with a little salt.
- When a dough is made, add the oil little by little, stirring constantly until everything is well mixed.
- Then the yolk and continue stirring until the mass is homogeneous. With practice this perfect Aioli sauce, which can be difficult at first.
Garlic and health
There are so many medicinal properties attributed to him dehydrated garlic that it is difficult to summarize and separate what is real from what is supposed or historically maintained. High doses of garlic have been shown to decrease blood pressure, stimulate the secretion of intestinal juices and eliminate the gut harmful. On the other hand, it strengthens the immune system, helping to prevent and reduce the symptoms of common diseases such as flu or the cold.
The garlic antioxidants they exert a protective effect against cell damage and natural aging. What is associated with a decrease in the risk of diseases such as dementia or Alzheimer's. Garlic consumption has also been shown to reduce bad cholesterol level (LDL), although it does not seem to affect good cholesterol (HDL) and triglycerides.
In ancient times, this food was used to reduce fatigue of workers and to increase the capacity of athletes. Today it is understood that this can occur in sick people, although it does not occur in healthy people.
History and curiosities of garlic
El origin of garlic focuses on Central Asia although it had a rapid diffusion basically due to the great adaptability of the crop, reaching India and later to Greece across the Mediterranean. Already at that time it was used with medicinal purposes. Information is found on papyri that in the Ancient Egypt it was part of their medicine and was used to ward off evil spirits. In this way, it is rare for us to find remains of garlic heads in the tombs of those Egyptians. For them, garlic was the connection between man and the universe, the garlic cloves symbolizing the solar system.
Whereas in Greece garlic was used for preparation of your athletes who chewed garlic before each competition. Was the Roman empire the one who popularized and introduced this product in his kitchen. The main objective was that the Roman soldiers had a more energetic and antiseptic diet.
