Immune-Boosting Fermented Garlic-Plus Paste [5 Ways to Use]

A must-have staple in any kitchen, fermented garlic paste—and its easy variations—will save you oodles of time when preparing meals. Its sweet, caramelized flavor is similar to roasted garlic and enables you to instantly transfer a dish from blah into WOW! Additional bonuses are the potent viral and bacterial agents in raw garlic—and onion—that support and strengthen your immune system.

In this recipe I teach you the basic skills to make a fermented paste and then give you ways to customize the recipe to your liking, using various combinations of garlic, onion, and ginger. When preparing meals, I use a straight garlic paste for sautéed greens, the 50-50 mixture of garlic and ginger for flavoring Asian dishes, and the 50-50 mixture of garlic and onion for adding to sandwiches, hamburgers, or hot dogs.

In the immune-boosting variation, we use a trifecta base of garlic, onion, and ginger and add in fresh turmeric [totally optional].

Feel a cold coming on? Want to boost your immune system throughout the flu season? Consume one teaspoon (5 ml) of any fermented paste variation one or two times daily.

Extra bonus?

No garlic breath! The sulfur-containing compounds in onions and garlic responsible for garlic breath are mellowed during the fermentation process.

I find that these pastes safely ferment without the use of a fermentation weight or airlock lid. So, don’t let any lack of fermentation tools stop you. If you can run a food processor, you can make garlic paste.

Other Preservation Methods for Garlic

Garlic forms the base for each of the fermented pastes in this recipe.

As you search around the internet for ways to preserve or ferment garlic, you may come across black garlic, pickled garlic, or honey fermented garlic. I’ll eventually have fermentation recipes for some of these other methods, but for now, some clarification.

Black Garlic

Black garlic is a type of preserved garlic made by aging whole bulbs of garlic—in a dehydrator or rice cooker set on warm—over the course of several weeks. The cloves turn inky black and develop a date-like texture with a sweet, earthy-like flavor, prized by chefs for adding intense flavor to dressing and dishes.

Black garlic is not fermented. The change in color, flavor, and texture is the result of the Maillard reaction, a process initiated by heat in which a chemical reaction between the amino acids and sugars of food result in the browning of that food. Think toast.

Ready to make your own black garlic? Why and How to Make Black Garlic by Oh, the Things We’ll Make

Pickled Garlic

Pickled garlic usually refers to garlic being preserved in vinegar with the addition of salt, sugar, and herbs. This is done without fermenting the garlic and does not contain the same beneficial bacteria and enzymes.

It’s easy to confuse pickling with fermenting since fermented garlic is also preserved in an acidic brine, naturally created by bacteria. I call garlic preserved without the use of vinegar, fermented garlic, or lacto-fermented garlic and that which quick-pickled with vinegar, pickled garlic.

Fermented or Lacto-Fermented Garlic Cloves

Lacto-fermented garlic is made by covering a jar full of peeled garlic cloves with a salty brine. Garlic preserved in this way retains its antibacterial and antiviral qualities, as well as a whole other suite of health-boosting properties.

How To Make Lacto-Fermented Garlic + 5 Ways To Use It by Rural Sprout

Fermented Garlic Paste

For fermented garlic paste, we puree the cloves with 2% salt first and then ferment the paste for up to 4 weeks.

I rarely ferment whole garlic cloves but instead stock my fridge with garlic paste. No peeling and chopping needed when wanting to add garlic to a dish. You already did so when you made the paste. Open jar, scoop out some paste. Stir into dish. The flavor added makes you an instant 5-Star Michelin chef.

Honey Fermented Garlic

Honey fermented garlic is a valuable example of food as medicine and is good to have on hand as the weather cools and cold germs abound. Eat a clove or two daily, add to salad dressing. Drizzle the honey on pizza or roasted vegetables.

I’m now spreading pureed, honey-fermented garlic on my toast each morning. The tad of sweetness from the honey seems decadent. Such a simple way to get my daily dose of garlic. I’m finding a stronger garlic bite with honey-fermented garlic than with fermented garlic paste.

It is dead simple to make. Fill jar with prepared cloves, pour in raw honey. Let ferment for 3-4 weeks. Botulism fears? On average honey has a pH of around 3.9, so it is too acidic for botulism to be an issue. I used the recipe below to make my first batch of honey fermented garlic.

Brad Makes Fermented Garlic Honey | It’s Alive | Bon Appétit

Now that you understand the various ways in which you can preserve garlic, let’s cover the health benefits of raw and/or fermented garlic.

Health Benefits of Garlic

Green Med Info has gathered together over 443 abstracts covering the benefits of garlic with a few of the studies discussing the benefits of fermented garlic.

Allyl sulfur compounds are the major active constituents found in crushed garlic. Studies demonstrate that heating has a negative influence on these beneficial effects, which is why fermentation is such a great way to preserve it. Academic

Some notable benefits are:

• Garlic fights infections. Garlic has potent antibacterial powers that can kill bacterial and viral infections. It contains the sulphur compound alliin that have a direct antiviral effect. When garlic is chopped or crushed, that enzymatic changes turn the alliin into allicin.
• Garlic is a potent anti-inflammatory that protects the blood vessels and prevents oxidative stress, lowering the risk of heart attack and atherosclerosis. Hydrogen sulfide acts as a chemical messenger in the body, relaxing blood vessels and allowing more blood to pass through. Science Daily
• Garlic contains selenium, an important antioxidant that supports liver detoxification and prevents premature aging.
• Garlic contains sulfur compounds that are anti-cancer and are important in liver detoxification pathways.
• Eating raw onion can be as effective as eating garlic. It contains the same anti-microbial compound allicin.
• Turmeric contains curcumin, a substance with powerful anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties which the fermentation makes more bioavailable.

How Much Garlic to Eat for the Health Benefits?

The benefits of garlic can be enjoyed by eating one or two cloves per day. Fermenting garlic enhances its nutritional value and makes it easier for the body to digest and to assimilate all the valuable nutrients.

Benefits of Fermenting Your Garlic, Ginger or Onions

Like other fermented foods, fermented garlic, ginger, and onions are a rich source of probiotics, vitamins, and enzymes that support gut health and immune system function, among many other things.

As a fermentation nerd, I’ve been studying the effects of fermentation on garlic’s medicinal properties and am thrilled that allicin content does not reduce during fermentation and increased sulfur compounds are formed, (Journal: Food Science and Biotechnology & LaChance). One study found that fermenting the garlic increased antioxidant properties by up to 13 times compared to the control garlic. The fermented garlic had increased polyphenols as well as higher amounts of SOD (superoxide dismutase), an important part of the antioxidant chain which reduces free radical damage, (Journal: Plant Foods for Human Nutrition). 

Kathrin Brunner, The Miracles of Garlic and a Recipe for Fermented Garlic Paste

Yes, you can buy those handy tubes of garlic and ginger paste at the grocery store, but I don’t care for the questionable ingredients and preservatives found in many of them. When making fermented garlic paste, we add just salt, and during the fermentation process, the bacteria create lactic acid, a natural preservative.

Fermented garlic, ginger, or onion paste is:

• Packed with probiotics, enzymes, and lactic acid for added nutrition and flavor.
• Contains enhanced nutritional value and makes it easier for the body to digest and to assimilate all the valuable nutrients.
• Lasts forever. A jar of fermented garlic paste stored in your fridge will last much longer than heads of garlic kept in your pantry.
• Won’t sprout. When you buy garlic from the store, it will often sprouts before you get a chance to use it. Not so with your fermented garlic.
• No garlic breath, a welcome bonus. The fermentation process mellows garlic’s pungent flavor.
• Great way to preserve the harvest. You can capture garlic at the peak of quality by fermenting recently harvested garlic.
• Make the perfect gift. Pack a 4-ounce (125 ml jar) with some fermented garlic paste to introduce friends to this flavorful, time-saving ferment.

Fermented Garlic-Ginger-Onion Paste Ingredients

To make fermented garlic-plus paste, you need a combination of garlic, onions, ginger, and salt, Sherpa Pink Himalayan Salt - 5 lbs. Fine Grain, being my favorite. The addition of fresh turmeric root gives additional immune-boosting properties.

You can also make a paste using just garlic or any combination of garlic, ginger, and/or onion. I give directions for each variation.

Not sure about using the salt in your kitchen, read about the pros and cons of each type of salt.

Purchasing Garlic

You will find garlic at the store year-round, but realize you’ll find the best quality from mid-summer to early fall when it is in season. There are two general categories of garlic: hardneck and softneck.

The “neck” in the names refers to the stalk that grows upward from the garlic bulb. Hardnecks have a stalk that stems from the center of the bulb and turns rigid at maturity. When breaking the cloves off the garlic bulb, you can still see the stalk in the center of the bulb. Softnecks stalks are made up of leaves rather than a central stalk. Softneck leaves remain soft and flexible at maturity. You won’t see a rigid central stalk.

Softneck garlic heads contain smaller cloves, usually a dozen or so per head. The husks on the cloves tend to be thinner and more papery.

Hardneck garlic heads contain fewer cloves, some as few as six, and the cloves are much larger. The husks on a hardneck garlic clove are more brittle and thick and tend to be easier to peel.

The best garlic for fermenting is hardneck garlic, which is more pungent with a stronger garlic flavor. You are more likely to find hardneck garlic at local farm stands. Use what you have access to, even if it is softneck garlic. But, at least now you know the difference between the two and what to look for when shopping in order to know what kind you’re buying.

I’m lucky that my husband loves to grow garlic, most of which I ferment into paste after harvest time.

When shopping for garlic, look for heads that feel full and firm and not hollow or dehydrated. Avoid heads with any sprouts or noticeable garlic odors, indicators that the garlic is old.

How Much Garlic Do I Need?

To make one-pint (500 ml) of fermented garlic paste, a perfect amount to start with, you’ll need 7-8 heads of garlic. At the store, feel free to weigh it, buying just over a pound (500 grams).

Peeled, this should be about 2 cups of cloves, or 400 grams. If you are fermenting a paste to include onions or ginger, you’ll use less garlic.

There are approximately 8 garlic heads to a pound (454 grams).

3 Ways to Peel Garlic

You’ll have to fiddle around a bit to find the best way to peel your garlic. Since you need 6-8 heads of garlic to make a batch of fermented garlic paste, you’ll want to find an efficient method. In order of preference for efficient peeling are three ways to peel garlic:

1. The jar method—my favorite. Break the head into cloves. Place garlic cloves into a large jar, cap, and shake vigorously for 20-30 seconds. I find I get better results if I first trim off the flat, root end, making it easier for the skins to break away.
2. The garlic peeler method. A garlic peeler is a silicone tube that you insert garlic cloves into and roll across your cutting board pressing down to removing the skin.
3. The knife method. Trim the root end off the clove and place under a large chef’s knife, with the blade facing away from you. Press down with the palm of your hand until you hear or feel a crack. This works great when you need just a clove or two.

NOTE: Do NOT use the microwave or hot water to peel garlic. Garlic peeling methods that use heat will not only kill the bacteria necessary for fermentation but also the active components that deliver the health benefits of consuming garlic.

All About Onions

Onions are the only vegetable we know of that lack intrinsic lactic-acid bacteria, the bacteria we need to make fermentation happen. For this reason, don’t try to ferment onions on their own and keep the percentage of onions in your paste to 50% or less.

I used yellow onions in this recipe.

Yellow onions have a nice balance of astringency and sweet.

White onions have a sharper and more pungent flavor than yellow onions.

Red onions have a relatively mild flavor and will give a somewhat muddy color to your fermented paste.

Purchasing Ginger

When purchasing ginger, look for tubes that feel heavy for their size with smooth skin and a spicy fragrance. Since the bacteria responsible for fermentation hide in the nooks and crannies of the peel, don’t feel the need to remove every last bit of peel. I do like to remove most of it for flavor and appearance.

Turmeric

It can be a bit of a challenge to peel turmeric. Not only are the tubes small, but it will stain everything it comes in contact with. Peel as best you can and cut off any woody or soft spots.

If you can’t get fresh and still want to add turmeric, use 1 teaspoon powdered turmeric for a 400 gram batch.

FAQs for Fermented Garlic Paste

How to Make Fermented Garlic-Plus Paste

You can use any combination of garlic, onion, and ginger to make your fermented paste. If you use onions, keep them to less than 50% of the total weight. In these pictures, I’m using equal amounts of garlic, ginger, onions. To keep life simple, feel free to start with 100% garlic.

To fill a pint (500 ml) jar, you need approximately 400 grams of ingredients. Your life is so much easier if you weigh your ingredients, using a digital scale, the My Weigh KD-8000 being my favorite.

Time now to add your ingredients to your food processor bowl and calculate how much salt to add.

Fermentation Ninja Skill: Calculate How Many Grams of Salt to Add

Fermentation best unfolds at a set percentage of salt base upon the weight of the ingredients that you’re fermenting. For fermented garlic paste, we add 2% salt by weight.

You probably think that it’s much easier to grab a measuring spoon and just add a set number of teaspoons of salt. However, if you know the weight of your ingredients, we can calculate the weight of salt to add. Then, no matter which size batch you’re making, you add the right amount of salt to establish a proper fermentation environment. The good bacteria grow. The bad bacteria die.

Once you do this a few times, you’ll see how easy it is. Your finished paste is not too salty, not too bland, but… Goldielocks right. It’s OK to break out a calculator for this.

1. Multiply the weight of your ingredients x 0.02
2. Ignore the numbers after the decimal point, or round up if great than .50
3. Add that many grams of salt

For example:

1. Multiply the weight of your ingredients (410 grams) x 0.02: 410 x 0.02 = 8.20
2. Ignore the numbers after the decimal point: 8.20
3. Add that many grams of salt: 8

OR:

1. 540 x 0.02 = 10.80
2. 10.80 rounds to 11
3. Add 11 grams of salt

Whew, that part’s all done! Now to blend your ingredients into a smooth paste.

Time now to let the bacteria go to work for you.

How to Know When You Fermented Paste is Done

Ferment garlic for at least 14 days to allow time for the pH to drop to a safe level (below 4.0), enough lactic acid to be produced to preserve your garlic, and for flavors to mellow.

As your garlic paste ferments, these are the signs to watch for:

• Color shifting from a pale white—or the original color of your garlic—to a beautiful caramel brown. Note: If you added turmeric, the yellow color will dull over time.
• CO2 pockets forming in your packed mixture. Some recipes note the possible development of a bitter flavor if the CO2 pockets remain. I haven’t noticed this and find it difficult to remove the CO2 pockets because pressing down on the mixture seems to just cause the paste to ooze everywhere. If you do notice a bitter flavor, mix well, pack it back down into the jar and let it ferment for a few more days.
• Heaving. As CO2 pockets form in your packed paste, you may notice it expanding and moving up in your jar. This is normal and is called “heaving.” If you did not leave enough headspace in your jar, try pressing it back down into the jar or if need be, move some of the paste to a small jar.
• Flavor shifting. As fermentation progresses, the flavor will shift from a sharp garlic bite to a mellow, almost sweet flavor.

If you’re extra eager to use your paste, leave it to ferment for a minimum of 7 days, then remove some, placing it in a smaller jar of its own. Leave this out on the counter, where it will continue to ferment, but go ahead and use it as needed. You will notice a strong garlic bite that should dissipate within a week.

The paste is ready when it tastes milder than raw garlic and has a slightly acidic flavor. Clean up the jar and transfer it to the fridge with an airtight lid. Your paste will keep for up to a year, but once you discover the power of this flavorful gem, most likely will be long gone before then.

Using Your Fermented Garlic

Now that you have a jar of garlic paste, keep it handy, and use it to effortlessly add flavor to any dish or meal. I keep mine right on the door of my fridge, ready to grab at a moment’s notice.

• Keep refrigerated to slow down fermentation and keep flavors stable.
• Don’t heat if you want to take advantage of the probiotic, enzymatic and various health benefits. Anything over 106F (41C) will kill off beneficial bacteria along with the health benefits of garlic derived from the alliinase activity.
• Temperature check trick. If you want to add fermented garlic paste to soups or stews—highly recommended—check the temperature with your finger dipped into the dish. When you can hold your finger in the warm liquid for a few seconds, it is cool enough.

1 teaspoon (5 ml) of garlic paste = 1 medium clove of garlic

It all depends upon clove size, of course. My husband is the Garlic-Growing King and has picked a variety of garlic that rules when it comes to clove size. For us, we probably get 1 tablespoon of garlic paste from one clove of garlic.

Since the flavor of fermented garlic paste is mellower than raw garlic, I always add more than the recipe calls for and add it when I’m done preparing the dish.

How Long Does My Fermented Paste Last?

Forever, if you never use it. Or, just a few weeks if you slather it onto toast, add it to sautéed greens or stir it into soups, as I do.

5 Ways to Use Fermented Garlic Paste

The sky is the limit when looking for ways to use your fermented garlic paste. Just add it to any dish that calls for garlic (or onions or ginger if you’ve added those to the mix).

1. Straight Out of the Jar

Feel a cold coming on? Sore throat? Wanting to boost your immune system. Enjoy a small spoonful of fermented garlic paste 1-2 times a day, either straight from the spoon or spread onto toast.

One teaspoon (5 ml) of garlic paste is equal to one medium clove of garlic

2. Sautéed Greens

Sauté your greens as usual. Turn off heat and stir in some garlic paste. I add about one tablespoon of paste for one bunch of spinach.

3. Bruschetta

Bruschetta topping. Mix together:

• 2 cups (480 ml) Roma tomatoes, finely minced
• 1/2 cup (120 ml) basil, finely sliced
• 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese, finely grated
• 3 tablespoons (3 x 15 ml) olive oil
• 2 tablespoons (2 x 15 ml) balsamic vinegar
• 1 teaspoon (5 ml) salt
• 1/2 teaspoon (3 ml) pepper

Toast bread, spread with a thin layer of garlic paste, and add a spoonful of prepared bruschetta topping.

4. Avocado Toast

• Mash avocado
• Stir in a spoonful of garlic paste
• Stir in the juice from one lemon half
• Salt and pepper to taste
• Spread on toasted bread

5. Ranch-Style Salad Dressing

• Mix together 1/2 cup (120 ml) each of yogurt, sour cream, and mayonnaise.
• Add one tablespoon (15 ml) of fermented garlic paste.
• Stir in juice from one lemon until desired consistency.
• Add 1 tsp (5 ml) dried parsley flakes or 1 tablespoon (15 ml) fresh
• Add salt and pepper to taste

Other Fermentation Recipes with Garlic

My signature recipe, where I teach you how to make sauerkraut, includes a few cloves of flavor-packing garlic.

No kimchi recipe is complete without a hefty dose of garlic. Head to my traditional kimchi recipe, part of my kimchi series, where I cover all you need to know to make kimchi.

Garlic is also found in this red-hued sauerkraut recipe that uses beets. A winner in any household.

Recipe: Immune Boosting Fermented Garlic-Plus Paste

May you find many ways to use your Fermented Garlic-Plus paste and take joy in how easy it easy to add flavor, and a nutritional boost, to any dish.

Leave your favorite way to eat garlic in the Comment section, below.

Last update on 2024-04-25 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API