Garlic and Plant-based eating reaps rich rewards

Plant-based eating has never been so popular, as the benefits to both our health and the environment become better known. Whether you consume an entirely vegan diet or are simply looking to increase the amount of fruit and vegetables in your meals, garlic is a key ingredient in enhancing the flavour of your plant-based meals. It's also rich in vital nutrients, including Vitamin B6, which is involved in over a hundred enzyme reactions within the human body, and is used to produce the neurotransmitters serotonin and noradrenalin (helping to regulate mood and blood pressure). Garlic is also a good source of manganese, selenium and vitamin C, as well as the essential minerals phosphorous, calcium, potassium, iron and copper.

Need some recipe inspiration? See Below

If you need some culinary inspiration for deliciously garlicky vegan recipes, we have some mouth-watering ideas on our website, including Vegan Gnocchi with Garlic Tomato Sauce, Spinach and Garlic Vegan Crêpes, Garlic Harvest Traybake and Black Garlic Energy Balls. Or try this month's 'Veganuary' special of Vegan Shepherd's Pie - perfect comfort food at this chilly time of year, and a great mid-week supper for all the family.

Visit Us

Here at The Garlic Farm, we have updated our restaurant menu to include more vegetable based and locally sourced food from Island farmers. Vegans can tuck into Idlecombe Farm quinoa salad with roasted beetroot and chickpeas, pine nuts and fresh mint, or ask for our vegetarian main courses to be adapted: try the pan-roasted Isle of Wight Cauliflower Steak, or vegetable risotto with seasonal root vegetables from Isle of Wight farmers' Living Larder (typically served with grilled Briddlesford Farm halloumi, this can be omitted for vegan diners). Our Light Bites menu features several vegan and vegetarian options, including our popular Whole Roasted Garlic Bulb, Pan-Fried Garlic Mushrooms, and Tempura Cauliflower with vegan mayonnaise.

If being Plant-based is not for you....

Whilst we support efforts to reduce meat consumption, we also believe that for those who follow an omnivorous diet, it's important to choose the best quality meat from animals who have enjoyed superlative welfare and nutrition - "eat less, eat better" is the RSPCA's advice. At the restaurant, we aim to source our meat as locally as possible, and currently serve Cheverton Farm lamb, our own Highland Cattle beef, and Brownrigg's chicken - the production of which have a much lower impact on the environment, and help support Isle of Wight farmers.

What to Buy

Many of The Garlic Farm products that we sell in store and online are vegan, so you can freely enhance your plant-based meals or vegetable accompaniments with a wide variety of tasty garlic condiments, such as our Roast Garlic Jam, Hot Garlic Pickle, Sweet Chilli Sauce, Onion Marmalade, Teriyaki Sauce with Black Garlic, Garlic Farm salts or any of our delicious garlic-infused olive oils. However, please visit our product pages for a full list of vegan suitable products. Let us know which is your favourite!