No question – wild garlic is delicious and he althy. But unfortunately the season only lasts very short, which is why many people are looking for an equally delicious substitute for wild garlic. Read which herbs taste similar to wild garlic and can be used in the same way.
Which herbs are similar to wild garlic?
Very similar to wild garlic are thesethree herbs, which also belong to the allium family and, like wild garlic, have a slight garlic flavor:Chinese chives(also called chives),garlic chives(Knolau for short) andsnake leekOf course, the realgarlic is also suitable as a substitute.
How to use Chinese chives?
Chinese chives or chives (Allium odorum) are not only very similar in taste to wild garlic, but are also harvested and used like them. Cut the leaves close to the ground and use themraworsteamedorcooked in the Kitchen. In addition, the white flowers and the seed capsules are also edible; the latter can be used for false capers
Allium odorum can be sown directly outdoors between April and May, although its preferences differ from those of wild garlic: Chinese garlic needs asunny locationand a lot of warmth. The plant can beharvested between July and September.
How to grow garlic chives?
Garlic chives are the speciesAllium tuberosumwhich is also sometimes referred to as chives. It is closely related to Chinese chives and therefore very similar to wild garlic and therefore a good substitute. The use in the kitchen is similar to wild garlic, and Allium tuberosum enriches many typical Asian dishes. Allium tuberosum can also be cultivated in the garden andeven in pots, although this speciesalso thrives in partial shade. The above-ground parts of the plant die in winter, but sprout again next spring.
Where can you collect wild snake leek?
The so-called snake leek (Allium scorodoprasum) is also one of the herbs similar to wild garlic. The species is also known asfield garlicand grows wild in sunny locations on moist soil, for example in clearings in floodplain forests, on the edges of ditches or in wet meadows. All parts of the snake leek are edible, but the plant is easily confused with other allium plants and with the same poisonous plants as wild garlic. You can recognize them by thesefeatures:
- usually up to 100 centimeters high
- can grow up to 150 centimeters high
- narrow, rough leaves
- up to 40 centimeters long
- purple flowers from June to July
Tip
Which plants can wild garlic be confused with?
But be careful when collecting wild garlic and similar herbs: These can easily be confused with poisonous plants, which is why you should know the species and their specific characteristics exactly. This is extremely important, especially when collecting wild animals! In particular, poisoning with the autumn crocus or arum can be fatal in cases of doubt. Lily of the valley poisoning is at least quite unpleasant.
