A Simple Recipe for Fermented Garlic Honey For Drizzling On Everything (2024)

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When you combine fresh garlic and raw honey, you get this magical fermented garlic honey that’s perfect for drizzling on pizza, fried chicken, grilled pork, and by the spoonful just as is.

By

Nick Evans

A Simple Recipe for Fermented Garlic Honey For Drizzling On Everything (1)

Nick Evans

Nick has been creating recipes for home cooks for almost 15 years. He is the author of Love Your Leftovers and has contributed to Simply Recipes since 2017.

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Published October 03, 2022

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I would consider myself a beginner when it comes to fermenting. I’ve messed around with a few experiments, but I’m not one to have bubbling jars on my kitchen shelf. That said, I will always make room in my pantry for fermented garlic honey—it’s easy to make, calls for only two ingredients, stores well, and is SO delicious. This is a great beginner fermenting project.

I find myself sneaking a spoonful of this sweet, garlicky, spicy honey throughout the day. Once you try it, you’ll wonder why anyone bothers eating honey that isn’t infused with garlic.

How to Safely Ferment Garlic Honey

Let’s get the important stuff out of the way first. Anytime you store garlic, there is a chance of botulism. This recipe adds fresh cloves of garlic into raw honey, which is naturally acidic and stops bacterial growth.

That said, if you have concerns, test the honey before eating it. If the pH level is above 4.6, you can add some apple cider vinegar to raise the acidity. It will speed up the fermenting process and will water down the honey, but it’ll be just as delicious.

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Use Raw Honey

This recipe is about as easy as it gets. First you need a lot of garlic. How much? Well, 15 to 20 cloves. That’s about two heads of garlic. You could do less and get plenty of garlic flavor, but it tastes better with more.

Add the garlic cloves to a clean jar along with some crushed red pepper flakes. Then, cover with raw honey. It is important to use raw honey for this recipe or it will not ferment. You can find raw honey at most major grocery stores these days. The label should say raw honey on it.

Seal the jar and store it in a cool place. Now the hardest part: WAIT.

Shake and Burp the Garlic Honey

Keep an eye on the jar for the first few days. Give it a shake once a day to make sure the garlic is covered in the honey. Also, open the jar once a day to “burp” it and let off any built-up gas. Exploding honey jars aren’t fun.

After five days, your honey will be ready and you can slather it on whatever your heart desires!

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Can You Eat the Garlic?

While the honey is the star of the show, I’m not one to waste garlic. It’s definitely good—milder than raw garlic, but not as mild as roasted garlic. I tried a clove straight out of the jar—for science—and found it to be pretty tasty, although it was a little bitter.

That said, I'd cook with the garlic—add them to these delicious mini pretzels! You can rinse off the cloves, if the honey won’t mesh with the recipe, or use them as is. Another way I love using the garlic? Mince a clove and mash it with softened butter. Put that on toast with a drizzle of the fermented garlic honey and it’s a next-level garlic toast.

More Ideas for Using This Garlic Honey

This garlic honey might be the most versatile condiment out there. I’m having a hard time thinking of things you couldn’t put this on.

  • This honey is made for pizza—a must-try!
  • Smeared on toast or dip for bread
  • Drizzled on grilled meats like lamb, pork chops, or even burgers
  • Drizzled on grain salads
  • In an egg or breakfast sandwich
  • Drizzled on ice cream

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For the Love of Garlic

  • Roasted Garlic
  • Garlic Confit
  • Garlic Bread
  • Roasted Garlic Chicken
  • Roasted Garlic White Pizza Sauce

Fermented Garlic Honey

Prep Time10 mins

Fermenting Time120 hrs

Total Time120 hrs 10 mins

Servings32 servings

Yield1 pint

To speed up the fermenting, lightly crush the cloves, but don’t chop them.

You need to use raw honey (not pasteurized honey) for this recipe to ferment. If you’re unsure if the honey is raw or not, just look at the label of the jar.

Honey is acidic enough to stop bacterial growth—botulism is a concern with storing garlic. If you are concerned, you can test the pH level of the honey with a pH litmus strip. If it is above a 4.6, stir in a tablespoon of apple cider vinegar to increase the acidity.

Ingredients

  • 15 to 20 cloves of garlic (about 2 heads), peeled (see recipe note)

  • 1 1/2 cups raw honey (see recipe note)

  • 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes(optional)

Special Equipment

  • 1pint glass jar

Method

  1. Start the ferment:

    Add the garlic into a clean pint jar along with red pepper flakes, if using. Add the honey and stir. Seal the jar and store in a cool dry place.

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  2. Burp and shake the jar:

    At least once a day for 5 days, shake the jar to make sure the garlic is covered with honey. Once bubbles start to form in the honey, open the jar once a day to release any built-up gas.

  3. Store:

    Allow the garlic honey to ferment for 5 days before enjoying. You can then keep the honey in your pantry for 6 months. After 3 to 4 weeks, I remove the garlic from the honey and transfer the garlic to the fridge for cooking. You might see some discoloration in the garlic—that is fine.

    Use the honey drizzled on pizza, breads, toast, meats, or pretty much anything.

    Did you love the recipe? Leave us stars below!

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Nutrition Facts (per serving)
51Calories
0g Fat
14g Carbs
0g Protein

×

Nutrition Facts
Servings: 32
Amount per serving
Calories51
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 0g0%
Saturated Fat 0g0%
Cholesterol 0mg0%
Sodium 1mg0%
Total Carbohydrate 14g5%
Dietary Fiber 0g0%
Total Sugars 13g
Protein 0g
Vitamin C 1mg3%
Calcium 4mg0%
Iron 0mg1%
Potassium 16mg0%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.

Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate. In cases where multiple ingredient alternatives are given, the first listed is calculated for nutrition. Garnishes and optional ingredients are not included.

A Simple Recipe for Fermented Garlic Honey For Drizzling On Everything (2024)

FAQs

What does garlic and honey do for you when fermented? ›

Once combined, fermented garlic honey is a true powerhouse that helps to support the immune system while also relieve symptoms of colds, the flu, sore throats, and coughs.

How long can you keep fermented garlic in honey? ›

Because honey is shelf stable and garlic has so many antibacterial & antimicrobial properties, honey garlic does not need to be refrigerated. Garlic honey lasts up 12 months – although I've heard of folks continuing to add garlic to the same honey for YEARS.

What does honey and garlic do mixed together? ›

Garlic and honey are super foods that combined form an excellent natural remedy to combat conditions such as colds, flu, and other illnesses. The sulfur compounds in garlic and the nutrients in honey exert an anticoagulant and toning effect on the veins, preventing the formation of thrombosis and varicose veins.

What happens when you eat garlic and honey everyday? ›

Boosts memory and brain health A mixture of both garlic and honey contains many healthful antioxidant compounds. These healthy chemicals help the body balance the immune system and prevent disease.

Does fermented garlic honey lower blood pressure? ›

Several clinical and lab studies have looked at the many heart health benefits of garlic. The Mayo Clinic notes that antioxidants in honey may also help protect you against heart disease. According to a medical review , garlic acts to help lower the risk of heart disease and stroke by: lowering high blood pressure.

How do you prevent botulism in fermented garlic honey? ›

While your garlic honey is fermenting, make sure all the cloves are fully submerged at all times, as this creates an anaerobic environment consistent with avoiding botulism contamination.

Can fermented garlic go bad? ›

Yes! As long as the honey is kept in a cool dry place, the garlic stays below the surface of the honey, and no moisture gets inside the jar, then the fermented garlic honey will be safe to eat for up to a year.

Can honey ferment and go bad? ›

Honey doesn't go bad, but it can lose its flavor or ferment if stored improperly. Store honey in an airtight container, away from sunlight. Honey is a buzz-worthy kitchen staple. This sweet, syrupy liquid is a versatile food that can be used in all sorts of recipes, from savory to sweet.

Should fermented garlic be refrigerated? ›

Let the garlic continue to ferment for at least 1 month for best results. Some of the best, most mellow flavors come from cloves fermented for at least 2 months. When you decide that it is done, screw the lid on firmly and place the jar in the fridge to store.

Does garlic and honey need to be refrigerated? ›

Neither of these items require refrigeration. Garlic will eventually go bad with or without refrigeration. You'll know when it starts going bad if it either starts to sprout or shrivel. Honey basically never goes bad.

Is fermented garlic and honey an antibiotic? ›

Both honey and garlic are excellent antibacterial, antifungal, and antiviral agents. Traditionally they have been used to treat skin infections and prevent sepsis in wounded areas.

What happens when you eat garlic in the morning on an empty stomach? ›

Studies have shown that garlic if eaten on an empty stomach acts as a powerful antibiotic. It is more effective when you eat it before breakfast because bacteria is exposed and cannot defend itself from succumbing to its power. Many people who suffer from hypertension have found that garlic helps relieve some symptoms.

Can we drink water after eating garlic and honey? ›

Chop one garlic clove into 3-4 pieces and place it on a spoon. Drizzle a few drops of honey on the spoon and let it sit aside for two minutes. Now just have it and chew the garlic properly and gulp it down. You can also drink 2-3 sips of warm water with it if the flavour of garlic seems a bit overwhelming to you.

What is the best time to eat garlic and honey? ›

A combination of honey and garlic might not seem very appetising, but it is very beneficial, when it comes to weight loss and improving your overall well-being. Consumption of raw garlic first thing in the morning is often recommended for improving digestion and detoxifying the body.

Is fermented garlic honey safe? ›

Fermented garlic honey must be stored properly in order to be safe to eat. Stored garlic can cause botulism, a serious type of foodborne illness. Fortunately, raw honey is acidic enough to kill the bacteria that cause botulism. Infants younger than 12 months should never consume honey because of the risk of botulism.

What does fermented garlic do for the body? ›

As garlic and ginger go through the fermentation process, the number of probiotic bacteria in them increases. Consuming probiotic bacteria has many benefits including improving your digestive system and immune system. In the winter, it is especially important to consume probiotics to help avoid colds and the flu.

Is fermented garlic and honey safe? ›

Fermented garlic honey must be stored properly in order to be safe to eat. Stored garlic can cause botulism, a serious type of foodborne illness. Fortunately, raw honey is acidic enough to kill the bacteria that cause botulism. Infants younger than 12 months should never consume honey because of the risk of botulism.

How often to eat fermented garlic honey when sick? ›

So keep a jar of this on hand at all times. At the first sign of a sore throat, cold or flu, start popping honey infused garlic and try to eat one clove every hour or two all day long. Decrease the amount the next day, but continue to eat a couple of cloves a day until all better.

What is the benefit of fermenting garlic? ›

Studies have shown that the fermentation process increases the amount of nutrients in garlic and makes them easier to absorb by the body. The highest protein content was available after 60 days of fermentation while the highest fat and carbohydrate content was found after 90 days of fermentation.

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