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Spring Garlic Delivery or Pickup
The Instacart guide to spring garlic
About spring garlic
Also known as green garlic, spring garlic is a farmer's market mainstay that signals the emergence of a chilly winter with its light garlicky taste that brightens everything from salads to soups.
Spring garlic is young, immature garlic that has a lighter, almost nutty taste and looks more similar to spring onions than to traditionally rotund garlic bulbs. Garlic is typically planted in the late fall and harvested in June or July. Once the ground thaws between March and May, the young green garlic can be harvested as spring garlic. Spring garlic tops are very bright green, and the bulb is white speckled with pink and purple. Spring garlic typically has not yet sprouted its cloves, strengthening its visual similarity to spring onions.
Chefs and culinary enthusiasts flock to spring onions for their lighter taste that is a departure from the bracing, pungent flavor of traditional garlic that can be overpowering in some dishes. Spring garlic is also very versatile and can be swapped for shallots, spring onions, and leeks in certain recipes.
How to pick out spring garlic
Whether you are at the farmer's market or the grocery store, keep your eyes out in early spring for spring garlic. It can look so similar to spring onions that a quick sniff test can reveal the telltale garlic aroma if the visual cues are unclear.
Pick garlic bunches with long white or pinkish-purple bulbs, flat, dark green leaves, and intact roots at the base of the bulbs. Leave aside any bulbs that look discolored, wrinkled, or wilted, as these are signs of tired spring garlic that's nearing the end of its usability. Similarly, avoid soggy green leaves, which also point to garlic that is past its prime. Spring garlic will have a faint and pleasant garlicky aroma; if it has a pungent, unctuous odor, it is best to leave it aside.
How do you store spring garlic?
Once you arrive home with your spring garlic, it should be stored in the refrigerator where it will stay fresh for roughly five to seven days. To ensure its freshness, wrap the long green leaves in a damp paper towel and place the bunch into a sealed plastic bag. Alternatively, fill a glass with water and submerge the bulbs into the water in the refrigerator to keep the garlic fresh and hydrated.
Once you are ready to incorporate the spring garlic into your meal preparation, remove the bulbs from the leaves with a knife and use the tender white parts as your recipe requires. Don't throw away the green leaves, which can be used to enhance the flavors of vegetable stock or added to a soup for a mild zing.
Spring Garlic Near Me
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FAQs about spring garlic
Spring garlic can bring brightness and pep to just about any creation. Chop up the spring garlic and saute in olive oil for a quick and easy sauce to top pasta, or add diced raw garlic to homemade salad dressings. It can be added to frittata or quiche with excellent results or fried up until crispy as a crunchy and satisfying topping for a tofu dish.
Whatever the cuisine, spring garlic is a beneficial companion to a myriad of ingredients. Spring garlic is so mild that it can be enjoyed raw in salads, eggs, and to bring a tasty kick to enliven the quotidian chicken salad. An increasingly popular preparation is to pickle spring garlic for a pleasantly zesty flavor. Immerse slices of green garlic in oil with other seasonings for an impactful and flavorful marinade that can bring beef, chicken, tofu, shrimp, and other proteins to life.
A significant and active ingredient of spring garlic is allicin, a powerful antioxidant that can reduce inflammation. Spring garlic can help to strengthen the immune system, making it a popular supplement when suffering from a cold or infection. Studies have shown a connection between allicin and the body's ability to lower its LDL (bad) cholesterol levels and elevate its HDL (good) cholesterol levels. This ingredient can also help lower blood pressure, which reduces the risks of heart attack and stroke.
The anti-inflammatory properties of spring garlic also make it a potent defense against stomach and digestive ailments as it soothes inflammation and irritation of the gut. Green garlic acts as a diuretic, flushing out the kidneys and cleaning the liver to promote overall improved body health.
Offering a powerful blend of pleasant taste and incredible health benefits, consider adding spring garlic to your shopping list and exploring its culinary potential. Whether you are stocking up on your weekly basis or preparing for a large gathering, let Instacart make things easier with same-day delivery that can have your groceries at your door in as little as 2 hours!