Cooking Resources

dbdbdb · 03-21-2007, 05:36 PM

Hey,

my husband is allergic to onions and garlic and has not been able to taste their great falvour in his food for the last 3 years!

Does anyone know what I can use to replace onions and garlic in my cooking?? Preferably a vegetarian substitute since we're strict vegetarians

jpmcgrew · 03-21-2007, 06:49 PM

Wow! Thats a really tough one as garlic and onions are a staple in alot of cooking.

jkath · 03-21-2007, 06:52 PM

Is he allergic to all types of onions? If so, then chives would also be out.

You could dice radishes that have been underwatered, (not under water) as they can be quite spicy, thus subbing for the onion.

For the garlic - boy, that's a hard one. I'll have to think on that for a while.

Another thought is to use various chiles. There are so many different varieties, you may find a good match for the onions.

jkath · 03-21-2007, 06:54 PM

Look what I found!

"Some recipes call for coriander roots, and the roots can also be used as a substitute for garlic."
from this site: Beat the Chef - Cooking Tips

Robo410 · 03-21-2007, 08:01 PM

perhaps chives or leeks have less of the problem chemical ? WHat is the part causing the allergy? Consultant an herbalist or nutritionist.

ncage1974 · 03-21-2007, 08:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dbdbdb

Hey,

my husband is allergic to onions and garlic and has not been able to taste their great falvour in his food for the last 3 years!

Does anyone know what I can use to replace onions and garlic in my cooking?? Preferably a vegetarian substitute since we're strict vegetarians

If they are dried is he still alergic to them? How about just garlic/onion powder?

dbdbdb · 03-22-2007, 05:59 PM

Thanks! a lot! These are great ideas!

by coriander roots... does it just mean the stalk like things at the bottom of a bunch of coriander?

And I've never heard of underwatered raddish... where d'you get that from?

And yes, he's allergic to all types of onion and garlic... even dried

Constance · 03-22-2007, 06:54 PM

I'd say you'll just have to get your flavor in different ways. You'd be surprised at how many foods taste great with just salt & pepper. Some other hints...

A squeeze of fresh lemon perks up almost any dish.
A pinch of sugar can do wonders for a lot of vegies, gravies and sauces. So does a pat of butter.
Experiment with herbs, to see what flavors you like. Parsley, rosemary, thyme, sweet basil and oregano are some good ones to start with.
Look at things like sweet and sour and other flavorful sauces that don't have to have onions or garlic.

jpmcgrew · 03-22-2007, 09:11 PM

Constance has said it all. All I can think of next is ,is there a culture in the whole world that doesn't use onions and garlic? I feel really bad for your husband,Is it possible to go to a doctor and get allergy shots for this?I think you can get pretty creative in making his food more interesting like avocados with just lemon and salt and pepper.This is a really tough one and the fact he is vegetarian makes it even harder because a steak and baked potato could be quite satisfying. So are you saying you dont eat cheese either?What kind of of vegetarian are you vegan or or something else?

YT2095 · 03-23-2007, 05:04 AM

use Asafoetida as a garlic replacement, and have you tried him on Leeks at all?
they can make a reasonable Onion sub also.

BBC - Food - Glossary - 'A'