Botanically speaking, garlic is a vegetable. It belongs to the Allium family, which also includes onions, leeks, and chives. The part of the plant we eat is the bulb.

However, in a culinary context, garlic is often used more like a spice or herb due to its strong, pungent flavor. It’s typically added in small amounts to enhance the taste of dishes rather than being consumed as a main vegetable in large quantities.

So, while it’s botanically a vegetable, its common usage in cooking often aligns with how we use spices and herbs