The ice cream that generates mixed opinions that you can taste in the Garlic Capital of the World

The simple, creamy base of ice cream lends itself to a wide variety of exotic flavors: soy sauce, salted licorice, goat cheese, sweet potato, and garlic. Yes, garlic. If you thought this fungus had no place in the world of desserts, a city in central California wants to prove you wrong. Gilroy is famous for being the Garlic Capital of the World, and every year the city hosts a festival where you can sample garlic-flavored fries, popcorn, waffles, cake, barbecue, and, of course, garlic ice cream.

When cooking with garlic, this ingredient works well in creamy dishes like pasta sauce and aioli, for example, which is why it can be used as a flavoring in ice cream. The cream helps balance the intensity of the garlic, as does the sweetness of the dessert's sugar. Gilroy's Garlic Ice Cream includes vanilla to balance the salty notes of the main ingredient. At first glance, it also looks like an ordinary scoop of vanilla ice cream. However, upon closer inspection, small pieces of garlic become visible. The initial flavor profile is sweet and creamy, with hints of vanilla, but then the garlic flavor begins to emerge in the throat with salty undertones.

This flavor of ice cream is only for true garlic lovers. For those who can't get enough of it, we recommend trying bolder flavors like roasted almond, chocolate, vanilla, pistachio, or pecan praline. Besides the Annual Garlic Festival, garlic ice cream can be found at several ice cream shops in Gilroy.

How to add garlic to homemade ice cream

When it comes to ice cream, it's probably not true that "you can never have too much garlic." Garlic can be prepared in a variety of ways to better incorporate it into ice cream. For homemade ice cream, you can mince a clove of garlic and heat it with the milk and vanilla base. Without overcooking it, the garlic will retain its sharp, pungent flavor after being added to the ice cream. If you want to soften the flavor, another option is to roast the garlic before adding it to the ice cream. This gives the garlic a nuttier, caramelized flavor and minimizes its spiciness; you can also roast it in honey for added sweetness. Some garlic ice cream recipes include a swirl of balsamic vinegar for an even sweeter and saltier flavor profile.

If you're intrigued by garlic ice cream, you don't have to make it at home. You can sprinkle garlic powder on store-bought vanilla ice cream or mix it in. For reference, 1/4 teaspoon of garlic powder is equivalent to one clove of garlic. You can also finely chop roasted garlic and mix it into the dessert.

Black garlic, which is regular garlic that has matured to a dark brown or black color, is another option. This garlic has a less intense flavor and a more earthy and sweet taste, so it pairs well with chocolate ice cream.