Sardinian garlic: characteristics, uses and curiosities
Sardinian garlic, a versatile product rich in beneficial properties, representing the genuine soul of the island
Sardinian garlic is the next stage on our journey discovering the island’s typical products: with its pleasantly aromatic flavor, yet strong at the same time, it’s one ofthe great protagonists of the local culinary tradition.
Sardinia is a rich and generous land, capable of generating unique fruits and vegetables in the whole Italian panorama, such as Allium Sardoum Moris, or simply Sardinian garlic, a precious ingredient which enhances the flavors of so many dishes of the gastronomic tradition, from the filling of the culurgiones to the sauce of the malloreddus, going beyond its mere use in preparing food to represent a symbol of the rich local cultural heritage.
Suffice it to say that allu, the popular name used by locals to refer to this particular variety of garlic which is exclusively produced in Sardinia, was already well known and appreciated at the time of the Phoenicians, who attributed it special magical and healing powers about increasing physical strength and fighting diseases. The Sardinian garlic cloves are significantly smaller than those of common garlic (Allium sativum), characterized by a delicate dusty pink or violet color and a penetrating and aromatic scent.
These properties were subsequently confirmed by rigorous medical and scientific studies: for example, it was discovered that garlic is a real mine of antioxidants, including the precursors of allicin, a molecule typical of this plant which is known for its notable antibacterial, antiviral and antifungal activity, therefore a true ally to strengthen the immune system.
Sardinian garlic is plenty of mineral salts too, such as potassium, calcium, phosphorus and selenium, that are essential for the correct energy metabolism, for increasing bone and muscle health and lowering blood pressure levels. As a matter of fact, garlic is often the basic ingredient of numerous supplements used to keep hypertension under control.
Hence, considering its notable properties, it is not surprising that the consumption of whole cloves of this garlic constitutes a very popular and cultural remedy here in Sardinia, which over the years has been handed down across generations as a strong natural weapon to treat colds, bacterial infections and even parasites, so much so that it is often compared to a sort of natural medicine.
In short, Sardinian garlic is an extraordinary product capable of embracing both good food tradition, personal care and well-being!
Sardinian garlic, a native species intimately related to the territory of the island
Together with saffron, the “red gold” of Sardinia which gives liveliness and unique scents to a great variety of traditional dishes (including malloreddus, zippulas, pardulas and panada) and to Sardinian honey, a truly ‘super-food’ due to its strong flavor and incredible healing properties, Sardinian garlic is another product whose origins are intimately connected with the history of the island itself and the civilizations that have followed one another in Sardinia over the centuries, contributing to shaping a unique multifaceted historical, cultural and naturalistic heritage.
It is no coincidence that this singular variety of garlic, characterized by the smaller size of its cloves, has been adapted to growing even in dry and uncultivated environments typical of the Sardinian hinterland, so much so that today they represent an important icon of its rich botanical panorama.
With no surprise, this incredible product was included into the Regional Repertoire of Agro-biodiversity for the first time ever, which can be consulted at www.biodiversitasardegna.it, a sort of online database created to preserve the rich diversity of the territory and prevent the extinction of animal and plant species considered to be at risk; a very meticulous work of collecting and indexing the native varieties that characterize the ancient territory of Ichnusa. At the moment, this classification includes 136 plant resources and 12 animals, which have adapted so deeply to the particular micro-climate and the peculiar composition of the territory of Sardinia that have built a unique bond, very difficult to recreate elsewhere.
Sardinian garlic, an excellent product to be valorized
With the arrival of the springtime, the uncultivated pastures of the hinterland get dotted with the pure white flowers typical of Sardinian garlic. It’s a real joyful view for the eyes, which acts as a prelude to the harvest of this precious product of the Sardinian earth; a moment that will only come a few months later, when most of the leaves will have withered under the scorching summer sunlight, turning to their typical brown color.
Although it is a plant that can also grow spontaneously, the cultivation of Sardinian garlic is now practiced systematically by multiple local agricultural companies, which with dedication and love for their land make sure to keep this unique production alive preserving it from the time going past and the progressive industrialization of the island. An effort from the Sardinian agro-producers aiming to avoid the extinction of this amazing class of garlic, a product that must not be forgotten.
Consuming Sardinian garlic becomes a way to celebrate the rich gastronomical culture of the island, of which this type of garlic represents a key ingredient, but especially to support the hard work of these producers, which is crucially important for the preservation of the rich naturalistic and cultural heritage, that is Sardinia’s most precious treasure.
Sardinian garlic, connecting traditional dishes with signature cuisine at Forte Village Resort
Rich in flavor and very fragrant, as the wild lands of the Sardinian hinterland: this garlic is a product that amazingly describes the Sardinian territory even better than words and images could ever do. Therefore, a journey to discover the rich Sardinian food and wine heritage can only begin with the tasting of this true specialty, growing right in the heart of this land.
It is certainly not a difficult task, as this is one of the aces ingredient of many recipes of Sardinian cuisine, from the simplest ones such as bread or garlic-flavored roasted potatoes, to the richest ones, especially: pane frattau (a variant of the traditional Sardinian flaky bread, pane carasau, enriched with tomato sauce, fresh eggs, broth, pecorino and of course garlic); culurgiones (a fresh pasta filled with potatoes, garlic and mint); and malloreddus (the typical Sardinian gnocchi made with a basic dough based on semolina flour, water and salt, often accompanied by a rich fresh tomato-based sauce, sometimes sausage, and of course seasoned with garlic and onion).
Sardinian garlic is also often used to enrich the flavor of porceddu, the iconic Sardinian roasted suckling pig flavored with many herbs and spices, above all saffron, black pepper, myrtle, thyme and mint. But, more simply, this amazing product it is often consumed even raw, accompanied or infused in the extraordinary local extra-virgin olive oil, in order to be able to savor all its aromatic taste and scent, the purity of Sardinian flavor.
A relevant point of reference to indulge in the pleasure of tasting these amazing foods is the Forte Village of Santa Margherita di Pula in the province of Cagliari, an awarded five-star resort immersed in the lush Mediterranean scrub that gently caresses the heavenly and crystal clear beaches of South Sardinia.
At the Resort it is possible to have access to a vast range of gourmet restaurants, including the prestigious Terrazza San Domenico by the top chef Massimiliano Mascia, the Forte Gourmet and the Belvedere by Giuseppe Molaro, just to name a few. Playing between respect for the culinary tradition and the excitement for the taste experimentation, they all aim to enhance the power of the most iconic and traditional local ingredients, among which Sardinian garlic stands out, in an innovative and even surprising way which, anyway, always expresses the most genuine essence of Sardinia.
Do you want to savor the aromatic power of Sardinian garlic in all its uses and experience a fairytale holiday in an authentic paradise? Discover Forte Village Resort in Sardinia
