Wild Garlic
Wild-growing member of the allium family
Wild garlic is a wild member of the allium family which also includes chives, onions, leeks, cultivated garlic, and others.
It can be found growing wild in many parts of the country, usually in shady, damp spots such as woodlands. It can be harvested in spring and early summer, with all parts of the plant being edible, and dies down completely after flowering until returning again early the year after.
The raw leaves and flowers can be used in salads where they give a mild to moderate garlic taste, or any part of the plant can be cooked and served in a similar way to spinach.
Cooked, it loses some of its garlic flavour, and can also be used as a herb or flavouring for soups or stews.
If you come across a patch of wild garlic, or are lucky enough to find it in a corner of your garden, then you can expect to enjoy it year after year as it's a very rugged plant that doesn't require attention or cultivation.
Wild garlic plants are also known as ramsons.
Comments from our visitors:
Danny, 2006-05-19 11:39:03:I've just found a large clump of this at the back of the garden.
As it's getting near the end of the season, is there a good way of preserving it in some way?
Add it to any soup ,especially the flowers and prepare yourself for a taste explosion!!
It makes a great soup in itself, but I've not come across any ways of preserving it. Maybe just a simple pickle?
More on 'Wild Harvests':
More on 'Herbs':
Angelica
Basil
Chervil
Coriander
Dill
Hyssop
Jekka McVicar
Lemon Grass
Lemon Thyme
Oregano
Rue
Za'atar
Related Recipes
Steamed wild garlic
Read full recipe by Nigel Slater, published at The Observer
