Cleveland Kitchen

Garlic tastes great and is excellent for you! This is why here at Cleveland Kitchen, we love using garlic in our marinades and krauts for all its taste and health benefits.

You may not know that garlic is made from fresh or dried bulbs of the botanical plant, Allium sativum. The bulb part of the plant is used most often and it holds the cloves we see in the store. Garlic is best stored by being hung in a dry place until used in your favorite dishes.

But what makes garlic healthy, and why is it used worldwide? Here we will explore the highly-anticipated review of the benefits of garlic.

Garlic Benefits

Garlic contains the property of allicin explicitly. When the cloves are crushed or chewed, it releases the potent, well-known smell and strong antibiotic traits. Allicin contains sulfur and sulfur-containing compounds that are shown to give garlic its known medicinal properties. It also includes several nutrients that are good for your health -- arginine, oligosaccharides, flavonoids, and selenium.

These compounds specifically boost the immune system. They do this by increasing the disease-fighting response of the white blood cells in our bodies. When the white cells encounter unwanted bacteria or viruses, it may help the body resist or destroy those and other microorganisms.

Guards Against Viruses

When our cells encounter harmful viruses, such as the common cold or flu, they help the body fight it off- with the aid of the nutrients from garlic.

Garlic has been used as an antiseptic, antibacterial, and anti-fungal agent. Garlic is also claimed to fight infections and may also build up strength.

Garlic may also help treat these issues:

Chronic bronchitis
Chronic mucus in your nose and throat (catarrh)
Recurrent colds and respiratory infections
Chronic earaches
Sore throat
Sinus problems
Flu
Yeast infections
Intestinal worms

So yes, garlic is healthy for you. However, you can benefit from garlic by eating two to three cloves per day or consuming products with fresh garlic mixed in, such as your favorite krauts or marinades. If you choose to take a supplement, doses range from 600 to 1200 milligrams per day.

Reduce Stress

Research shows that your body is more receptive to catching a cold or flu when you’re stressed out. Your body can lose its ability to fight off infections when it’s under constant stress. Now enter garlic- the garlic compounds affect your adrenal glands and their response to stress on the body. By eating garlic, your adrenal glands produce fewer stress hormones, making you more relaxed. Bring on the garlic!

CK Roasted Garlic Dressing

The benefits of garlic are why we choose to put it at the forefront of our Roasted Garlic dressing and marinade- offering creamy, garlicky goodness. It’s an easy way to get delicious and healthy fermented vegetables into your diet. Enjoy this plant-based dressing and marinade as a light and tasty dip, on a blackened chicken salad with toasted croutons, or a smoked turkey sandwich with roasted beets.

Here’s one of our favorite recipes to get the benefits of garlic and make a tasty meal!

Roasted Garlic Chicken Wrap

Ingredients

2 cups cooked grilled chicken breasts chopped seasoned with your favorite spices
1/4 cup Roasted Garlic dressing
1/2 cup mozzarella cheese

1/4 cup cilantro minced
4 eight-inch tortillas (choose tortilla type to match your diet)

Instructions

Place tortillas on a clean flat surface. Add 1/2 cup chicken, 1 tablespoon Roasted Garlic dressing, 2 tablespoons of cheese, and 1 tablespoon of minced cilantro on each tortilla.
Fold tightly to form a burrito shape.
Heat a heavy-duty pan or grill to medium heat. Coat with a light layer of oil or cooking spray and cook wraps for approx. 1-2 minutes on each side. Remove from heat, slice in half, and serve immediately.

Gnar Gnar Kraut

Here we also want to shine the spotlight on our Gnar Gnar Kraut. This is Cleveland’s answer to kimchi and is full of garlic, jalapeños and green cabbage. This spicy & gnarly kraut will add a bold and delicious kick to any dish. Beware, you might get hooked!

Again, this is a great recipe to use this kraut in a tasty dish to please everyone at your next gathering.

Gnar Gnar Potato Latkes

This gnarly take on traditional potato pancakes works excellent as an appetizer or as a simple side for dinner. Surprisingly light and crispy, perfect for the holidays, and they’re sure to become a staple in your kitchen.

Ingredients

2 cups Shredded Potato
1 cup Cleveland Kraut Gnar Gnar sauerkraut; drained and pat dry
1/2 cup finely diced yellow onion
2 tsp finely chopped garlic
2 oz. Thinly sliced scallions; plus a little extra for garnish 1 tsp Ground cumin
1/2 tsp ground black pepper
1 tsp Kosher salt
1/2 cup All-Purpose flour
1 tsp Baking powder
2 Eggs, lightly beaten
Canola oil for frying

Smoked Paprika Sauce:

1/2 cup Prepared mayo
1 tsp ground smoked paprika 1/2 tsp Sherry vinegar
Dash of kosher salt to taste

Instructions

Preheat oven: to 200°F.
Grate Potatoes: Using a box grater or food processor fitted with a grating disc, coarsely grate potatoes.
Rinse Potatoes: Transfer potatoes to a colander and rinse with cold water to remove excess starch. Drain and repeat this process twice more.
Dry Potatoes: Pat potatoes dry with a paper towel and transfer to a large bowl.
Combine: Add Gnar Gnar, onion, garlic, scallions, cumin, pepper, and salt and mix with a wooden spoon until the ingredients are well distributed.
Add ingredients: Next, add your flour, baking powder, and eggs, mixing until all ingredients are moist, but be careful not to overwork the batter.
Heat skillet: In heavy-bottomed, 12-inch skillet over moderately high heat, heat 3 ounces of oil hot but not smoking.
Cook: Drop about 2 Tablespoons of the potato mixture into the pan and flatten with a spatula to form four 2-inch pancakes.
Flip: Fry until bottoms are golden-brown, 4 to 5 minutes, then turn over and fry until golden-brown and crisp, an additional 4 to 5 minutes. Transfer to paper towels to drain. Keep warm on baking sheets in the oven while making the remaining pancakes.

Cleveland Kitchen

Discover our best-selling sauerkrauts and marinades! We bring creativity to the kitchen with a probiotic and nutrient-packed punch. Be sure to check out our blog to stay up-to-date with our latest CK news as well.

Medical Disclaimer: All information, content, and material of this website is for informational purposes only and is not intended to serve as a substitute for the consultation, diagnosis, and/or medical treatment of a qualified physician or healthcare provider. Always seek the advice of your physician or another qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.