Black garlic is delicious to eat as it is, but some people may want some change in taste.
For those who think that way, this time we will introduce black garlic and ingredients that are good to eat.
Please refer to it and discover something that goes well with you.

□ Characteristics of the taste of black garlic

The black garlic has a very impressive black appearance.　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　It looks and tastes very different from raw garlic.　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　Here, we will introduce the characteristics of the taste of black garlic.

Black garlic is garlic that has been aged for about a month in a well-managed, hot and humid environment.
The blackness of black garlic is not due to additives or coloring agents, but is a discoloration during the aging process.
And the cause of this discoloration is thought to be the Maillard reaction.

To give a little explanation about the Maillard reaction, this is a chemical reaction between sugars and amino acids.
It is caused by the combination of sugar and protein, which is an amino acid, to form melanoidin.
Dark-colored bread ears, miso, coffee, etc. are also discolored by the same Maillard reaction.

Raw garlic has a strong, unique spiciness and a pungent odor.
If you eat a lot of raw garlic, you will be worried about the smell of the next day.
On the other hand, the black garlic that has undergone the Maillard reaction does not have its peculiar odor.
Rather, it will turn into a sweet and sour scent.

Also, its taste is very high in sugar content and sweet.
Combined with its smooth texture, it is often said to be like dried fruit.

Black garlic has a change in taste and aroma that cannot be imagined from raw garlic.
Therefore, it may not be compatible with the same ingredients as raw garlic.
Find ingredients that are easy to eat with black garlic, which is characterized by its sweetness.

□ Ingredients that are good to eat with black garlic

According to one theory, black garlic was developed in Mie prefecture in 1999.
Therefore, it can be said that the history is very short.
You can eat black garlic as it is, but there are endless possibilities for eating it together.
Here, we will introduce two ingredients that are good to eat with black garlic.
Please, try it.

The first is black garlic and cheese.
Cheese is a fermented food, so it doesn’t quarrel with black garlic and goes great with it.
It is recommended to cut black garlic into a suitable size and put it on thinly sliced cheese to eat.
You can also use it as a snack for evening drinks.

In fact, black garlic is the best companion for evening drinks.
When you drink alcohol, your liver breaks down alcohol, doesn’t it?
If you drink more than the pace of decomposition, triglycerides will accumulate and your liver will weaken.
Moreover, when triglycerides and active oxygen are combined, they will be transformed into a harmful substance called lipid peroxide.

Black garlic has the function of removing active oxygen.
Therefore, it makes sense to eat black garlic as a snack while drinking.

The second is black garlic and natto.
Natto is also a fermented food.
It’s very easy to make. All you have to do is mix the natto that you always mix and eat with a small piece of black garlic.
The sweetness of natto and the sweetness of black garlic go well together.

□ How to eat black garlic

Black garlic is delicious to eat as it is, but some people may be tired of eating it as it is or want to change it.
Here are some ideas on how to eat black garlic.

*Salad and pasta toppings

The first is to chop black garlic into small pieces and use it as a topping for salads and pasta.
The black color, which is a characteristic of black garlic, will accent the dishes and make them look good.
The sweet and sour taste is also useful as a seasoning.

*Mix with stir fry or cake

Black garlic contains fat-soluble nutrients.
Therefore, it goes well with oil.
Taking advantage of compatibility, it can be used for cooking stir-fried foods and cakes.

In the case of stir-fry, it can be used as garlic butter in stir-fry oil.　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　The whole dish will have umami and richness.　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　You can take advantage of the unique goodness of black garlic.　

And, as you might be surprised, some people mix black garlic as an ingredient in pound cake.
The point is to chop it into small pieces and mix.
You wouldn’t put regular raw garlic in a pound cake, but black garlic with a high sugar content would make sense.

Here, I introduced how to eat black garlic.
There are endless ways to use it other than this.
Please discover it yourself.

□ Summary

This time, I introduced delicious ingredients to eat with black garlic.
There should be other foods you like besides the ones introduced here.　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　Please use it as a meal or snack to enjoy various kinds of black garlic.