Cooking With Garlic Can Be Fun When you hear the word "garlic", what do you think of? The first thing that comes to mind is the odor that it gives off when cooked. This smell is actually the allicin which is the active ingredient that gives garlic its flavor and aroma. Garlic has been used for centuries as an effective treatment for ailments such as indigestion, heartburn, and even cancer. The most popular use for garlic is in the preparation of French fries and other fried foods. It is also used to make many different sauces including Italian, Mexican, Chinese, Thai, Indian, and others. In fact, it is said that over 70% of all the food served in restaurants in America contains garlic.