Recipe: How to Make Fermented Garlic

Fermented garlic is the flavor upgrade your kitchen has been waiting for—bold, deeply savory, and bursting with rich umami flavor. Not only does lacto-fermenting garlic mellow out its sharp bite, but it also creates a versatile, ready-to-use condiment that instantly upgrades any dish. Whether you're stirring it into pasta, mixing it into dressings, or spreading it directly on toast, fermented garlic is your new culinary best friend.

Using just garlic, salt, water, and the FarmSteady Fermented Vegetable Kit, you can make a batch of delicious fermented garlic that's easy enough for beginners and satisfying enough for seasoned fermenters. We're going big here—peeling 12 full heads of garlic—because once you start using fermented garlic, you'll find endless ways to enjoy it.

What Exactly is Lacto-Fermentation?

Lacto-fermentation is a traditional method of preservation that uses salt and water to create a brine environment where beneficial bacteria thrive. These beneficial bacteria—primarily lactobacillus—transform raw garlic into a tangy, probiotic-rich condiment. The fermentation process enhances flavor, preserves the garlic naturally, and creates a unique culinary ingredient that can elevate dishes from ordinary to extraordinary.

Why You'll Love Fermented Garlic

• Flavor Upgrade: Fermentation deepens and enhances garlic’s natural umami flavors, making it smoother, richer, and more versatile.

• Convenience: With fermented garlic on hand, you save prep time—no peeling or mincing when you're ready to cook.

• Extended Shelf Life: Fermentation naturally preserves garlic, allowing you to store it in the fridge for several months.

• Versatility: Perfect in pasta dishes, sauces, soups, marinades, salad dressings, or simply spread onto crusty bread.

• Minimal Ingredients: All you need are garlic, salt, water, and your fermentation kit.

Storing and Using Your Fermented Garlic

One of the best things about this recipe? The garlic is minced before fermentation, making it easy to scoop straight from the jar whenever you need it. Once your batch is done fermenting, store it in the fridge, fully submerged in its brine. This keeps it fresh, flavorful, and ready to use.

As you work your way through your jar, just move the garlic into smaller containers to reduce air exposure, keep things tasting their best, and to save space in your fridge. We always know it’s time to start a new batch when we’re down to that last little jar.

Delicious Ways to Use Fermented Garlic:

• Stir into pasta sauces or marinara.

• Blend into creamy salad dressings and marinades.

• Mix into softened butter for an unbeatable garlic spread.

• Add a spoonful to soups, stews, or chili for depth of flavor.

• Spread directly on toasted bread, topped with sliced avocado or fresh tomatoes.

If you're loving this project and want to try another variation, check out our popular Fermented Honey Garlic recipe. It’s a sweet and savory twist that’s just as simple to make—and just as addictively good.

With your first batch of fermented garlic ready, your culinary adventures are just beginning. Ready to keep exploring? Subscribe to the FarmSteady YouTube channel for more DIY food inspiration, and visit farmsteady.com for recipes, tips, and our full range of fermentation kits. Happy fermenting!