Table Of contents
1. What is Black Garlic
2. Health Benefits of Black Garlic
Ø Boosts Immune Function
Ø Black Garlic for Liver Health
Ø Black Garlic for Cholesterol
Ø Black Garlic for Bone Health
Ø Black Garlic for Blood Pressure
Read moreA Crash Course on Eating Plant-Based
Black garlic satisfies a plant-based diet and adds flavor to just about any recipe, even cocktails! These lovely cloves provide a touch of sweetness to vegan dressings, add umami depth to homemade veggie burgers, and introduce a subtle black garlic flavor in roasted veggies. We even offer organic black garlic, all sourced in North America!
Read moreSweet Tips for Better Kids Treats
While school this year looks a little different, one thing hasn’t changed: snacks. Whether your kids head to the classroom or clock-in for lessons from home, they’re going to want something to eat at the end of the day.
And, kids love sugar. Unfortunately, sugar doesn’t always love them back. Sugar is a multi-billion-dollar industry, but it’s also not the best ingredient for humans. Sugar intake contributes to diabetes, obesity, heart disease, cancer and a host of other problems for kids later in life.
Black Garlic North America’s products are certified organic (our certifications can be found here), and we heavily focus on quality. We are North America’s largest producer of Black Garlic and all of our black garlic products are made with only one ingredient: Garlic.
Read moreBlack Pepper Tofu with Black Garlic Sauce
Black Pepper Tofu with Black Garlic Sauce
Living a vegan lifestyle is probably the best thing you can do for the planet. By shunning animal products, you’re supporting a more sustainable way of life that will provide future generations with a planet they can be proud of.
But while there are many benefits to becoming a vegan, it can be tricky (particularly when you first make the transition) to maintain an exciting and varied diet that doesn’t incorporate meat or dairy.
Thankfully, these days there are plenty of protein-packed substitutions that make dishes just as delicious – if not more so – than a carnivorous diet!
The humble tofu is our go-to when it comes to creating healthy and exciting dinners that are packed full of flavor and intrigue. Many of our meat-eating friends love it when we cook for them, as a vegan diet has encouraged us to become braver and more experimental with flavor profiles to create dishes that are a treat for the taste buds!
One of our absolute favorite ingredients at the moment is the elusive black garlic. It’s less common than the standard garlic cloves you might be familiar with and offers a delectably sweet and syrupy taste with hints of flavor that are reminiscent of balsamic vinegar and tamarind, perfect for Asian cooking.
Black garlic is much softer than fresh garlic, making it easy to transform into a paste, but Black Garlic North America provides a black garlic purée that can save you the time! This makes it absolutely perfect to create flavorful sauces or even transform into a marinade for tofu or any other meal.
If you’re ready to try a delicious Asian-inspired vegan dish that utilizes the versatility of the humble tofu with the incredible and complex notes of black garlic... Then look no further!
As with any tofu recipe, it’s vital to press the tofu before you start cooking to ensure you don’t end up with a flavorless white blob that’s impossible to enjoy. Taking a bit of extra time preparing your tofu will make all the difference in this dish, as will leaving it to marinate for as long as possible before you start cooking.
Black Pepper Tofu with Black Garlic Sauce
We infused our tofu with a black pepper sauce for a more in-depth flavor profile for this recipe and then created an incredible black garlic sauce to flow through the entire dish. We also added some broccoli for a touch of greenery and served it with perfectly cooked Asian rice noodles.
Ingredients
For the tofu
· 1 block extra-firm tofu
· 1 tbsp vegetable oil
· 1 tbsp rice vinegar
· ½ cup black pepper sauce (store-bought or you could make your own in advance)
· 1 tsp sesame oil
For the sauce
· 1 head Black Garlic North America brand Black Garlic
· 1 tsp fresh ginger, minced
· ¾ cups low sodium soy sauce
· 3 tbsp rice vinegar
· 1 tsp sesame oil
To finish
· 8oz rice noodles, cooked
· 2 broccoli heads, cut into florets and steamed
Method
1. Use a tofu press or DIY tofu pressing method to remove any excess moisture from your extra-firm tofu.
2. Once all moisture has been squeezed out, cut the tofu into 5 slices, and then cut each slice into 4 pieces.
3. Create the tofu marinade by combining the tofu ingredients (excluding the extra-firm tofu pieces) in a medium-sized bowl.
4. Add the tofu to your black pepper marinade and toss until it’s entirely coated by the sauce.
5. Cover and place in the refrigerator for 1-3 hours, or overnight.
6. Once the tofu has finished marinating, heat the sesame oil in a large skillet.
7. Add the tofu to the sesame oiled skillet and fry on medium heat for 6-8 minutes on either side. The tofu should be nice and crispy.
8. While your tofu fries, combine all the sauce ingredients together in a small saucepan and bring it to a boil before reducing down to a simmer.
9. Simmer the sauce for approximately 20 minutes, stirring occasionally, then pour it into a food processor and pulse until it’s smooth.
10. Add half the smooth sauce to the tofu along with the cooked rice noodles and broccoli.
11. Cook everything for 2-3 minutes, tossing to combine.
12. Serve in bowls with the rest of the black garlic sauce.
Black Garlic Recipe of the Week: A delicious vegan side dish!
Those who follow the vegan diet do more than skip meat at the dining room table. Vegans also avoid foods that can come from animals themselves, such as eggs, milk and honey. One shouldn’t associate veganism with restriction, however! For example, eggs can be substituted with scrambled tofu, cow’s milk can be exchanged for plant-based milk (think Almond and Oat Milk) maple syrup can be used instead of honey, and you can still eat as much of our black garlic as you want!
Read moreBlack Garlic Recipe of the Week: Brussels Sprouts and Mushroom Saute!
Image from Full Circle
Black Garlic Recipe of the Week:
Brussels Sprouts & Mushroom Saute!
Fiber & antioxidants make this a main course or side dish worth trying!
This morning I was strolling through the Baraboo, Wisconsin Farmer’s Market and I saw the most beautiful brussels sprouts on the table of a local farmer. I already have brussels sprouts in my apartment, as they are on my list every week. Now I was wishing I had known about the market sooner so that I could eat those beauties! I just moved here and hadn’t yet gotten around to researching the local markets (I have been busy hunting for my spoons with no luck), but my brussels sprouts will be coming from the local farmers next week.
Honestly, I eat brussels sprouts because they are delicious, and were recommended by one of my doctors as part of an anti-inflammatory diet. I have grown my own in the past and I roast a tray of them every week with Black Garlic Powder, olive oil and a little sea salt (served with a veggie burger, or as part of a veggie omelette), but if you need reasons to enjoy brussels sprouts beyond how great they taste, then consider the following:
A serving of brussels sprouts has 81% of the daily recommended value of Vitamin C (take care of that immune system, y’all!)
A serving has over 100% of the daily recommended value of Vitamin K, necessary for blood clotting and bone health.
Brussels sprouts are antioxidant-rich, just like our sweet black garlic! More about the antioxidants found in black garlic can be found in our Black Garlic Health Benefits where you can start your journey down the polyphenols “rabbit hole” (more on that another day).
A half-cup of brussels sprouts contain 8% of your daily need for fiber, making this a great food for digestive health. In addition to the fiber in the brussels sprouts, one serving of our Black Garlic Whole Bulbs (less than an ounce) contains 18% of your daily recommended value of fiber! This dish is fiberlicious, which is good news for the 95% of Americans who don’t get enough of this super-nutrient - that’s nearly all of us!
Photo by Sebastian Coman Photography on Unsplash - used with permission. Thanks, Sebastian!
Whatever the reason you make this black garlic recipe (taste, health or otherwise), we hope that you and your loved ones enjoy this yummy meal - as the main course served with rice, or “as-is” as a delightful side dish!
Brussels Sprouts and Mushroom Saute (made with Black Garlic) Recipe
Ingredients:
2 tablespoons olive oil
12-14 (1 pound) Brussels sprouts, thinly sliced or shredded
1 cup (8 ounces) shiitake mushrooms, sliced
1 (3.25 ounce) package of brown beech or maitake mushrooms, coarsely chopped
1 teaspoon fresh rosemary, minced
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
2 teaspoons lemon zest (save some for garnish)
1 tablespoon honey
1 teaspoon sea salt
¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
Directions
In a 12-14 inch skillet over medium-high heat, heat the oil.
Add the Brussels sprouts, mushrooms, garlic and rosemary. Reduce the heat to medium and sauté until the sprouts and mushrooms are tender, about 5 to 8 minutes.
Stir in the lemon juice, lemon zest, honey, salt and pepper. Toss and cook for another minute.
Sprinkle with lemon zest and serve.
The original recipe and a printable version can be found on Full Circle’s website.
Shop Black Garlic for this Recipe from Black Garlic North America!
The Argument for Organic
So what’s the deal with organic foods? Is the burst of popularity just a trend that will lose momentum when the next “it” product comes around? Is it worth spending the extra money? Check out why we think organic is the future.
Read moreWhy Shopping at Farmers Markets Makes a Difference
There are SO many reasons to purchase produce when you can from your local farmers market. You can often find more of a variety of products and produce you've never even heard of, farmers and sellers have cookings tips and recipe ideas for you to take advantage of, markets are affordable, seasonal and local...the list goes on. Here are the top 5 reasons we think shopping at farmers markets is one of the best things you can do for yourself and others.
Read moreAre You Afraid of Black Garlic? | The Top 5 Reasons to try our delicious ingredient
There are tons of reasons why trying new things, black garlic or other wacky ingredients, is good for you. Whether it's a new food, new exercise class or a different route to work in the morning, trying new things has the power to keep life exciting, keep you on your toes, and open your eyes to new possibilities!
Read moreVitamins and Minerals - More than Flintstones Gummies
Vitamins and minerals are organic compounds that are essential for supporting normal functions in our bodies. A healthy diet is imperative in helping us get the amounts of vitamins we need because our bodies can’t create vitamins and minerals fast enough to meet daily needs.
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