This April, our season calendar is getting its first entries, all well edible for people with fructose intolerance. Our first “vegetable” is going to be wild garlic.
Wild garlic can be found all across Germany and can be found in almost every kitchen and even naturopathy. But we’ll get to that later. First I want to give you some general information on wild garlic.
Worth Knowing
Wild garlic is a sort of leek and therfore related to wild chive, onions and (as the name implies) garlic. Since wild garlic prefers dark and moist places with lots of nutrition, it can mostly be found in the woods and close to rivers. It can be found all across europe, except for the evergreen mediterranean areas and the hungarian lowlands. In germany it can mostly be found in the south. In the north it even made the “red list”, meaning that it’s close to extinction (category 1) or at least potentially endangered (category 4) ist. Luckily enough, you won’t have to go out and pick it yourself. Most bigger supermarkets and health shops have it in stock when it’s in season. These strains of wild garlic are cultured and not picked in the wild. You’re only allowed to pick wild garlic for your own needs in Germany. Picking in nature reserves or for commercial reasons is forbidden by law.
Look out for poisonous traps
As I already mentioned, picking wild garlic for your self isn’t illegal. I’d still only recommend it if you really know what you’re looking for. Lillies of the valley and autumn crocus are almost identical in looks to wild garlic. The difference is only discernable if you know your plants. Both plants are very poisonous and responsible for at least a few deaths every year. So trying to cook a delicious meal and mixing in a leaf of lilly of the valley or autumn crocus is very much possible. Therefore I really recommend going to the store and buying it, even if it’s a little expensive – just to make sure everything’s alright.
Wild garlic in naturopathy
Wild garlic is very popular in naturopathy, because it has positive effects on your intestinal tract and blood circuit. Usually fresh leaves are used for treatment. Keep in mind though that this is no appropriate replacement for a visit at the doctor.
Wild garlic in your kitchen
Now we’re getting to the part you’ve all been waiting for: cooking. Wild garlic made our season calendar because it is digestible even with fructose intolerance. With a mere 0,84g/ 100g of fructose its part of the foods with little to no fructose and thus also usable in the waiting period. It has various uses in your kitchen and can easily replace garlic and onions in a recipe.
