Protein content
A 1 clove serving of garlic contains 0.2 g of protein - only a minor source of protein, about 0% of the 50 g Daily Value.
Share of this food's calories that come from protein - it is more of an energy food than a protein food.
| Serving | 1 clove (3 g) |
|---|---|
| Protein per serving | 0.2 g |
| Protein per 100 g | 6.36 g |
| Calories per serving | 4 kcal |
| Protein density | 17% of calories |
| Share of 50 g Daily Value | 0% |
| Protein quality | Incomplete protein |
| Category | Vegetables |
| Food type | Whole food |
| USDA record | FoodData Central #169230 |
A typical 1 clove serving of garlic contains 0.2 grams of protein (6.36 g per 100 g), which makes it only a minor source of protein. That covers roughly 0% of the 50 g reference Daily Value, so it adds toward your protein total for the day.
Around 17% of the calories in garlic come from protein, so it is more of an energy food than a protein food. It contributes to a day's protein total, but the bulk of what it delivers is energy rather than amino acids - treat it as a contributor alongside a denser source, not as the protein in a meal.
Among the 105 vegetables in the database, garlic ranks 102nd by protein per serving, and 790th out of all 796 foods on the site. Set against eggplant, another vegetable entry in the database, a serving carries about 0.6 g less protein (eggplant has 0.8 g per 1 cup cooked).
It is an incomplete protein on its own; pairing it with other plant foods across the day covers the full range of essential amino acids. The serving above is counted by piece at 3 g. Because pieces vary, the per-100 g figure is the one to use when comparing this against a food measured a different way.
Garlic is protein-dense by weight, but a clove weighs so little that it adds almost nothing to a day's intake.
Source: USDA FoodData Central #169230 - "Garlic, raw" (SR Legacy, published 4/1/2019). Values are the published reference figures for that record, not lab measurements for a specific brand or batch.
Quick answers
Garlic has 6.36 g of protein per 100 g. A typical 1 clove serving (3 g) provides 0.2 g.
No. Garlic is an incomplete protein on its own; pairing it with other protein sources across the day covers the full range of essential amino acids.
A 1 clove serving of garlic contains 0.2 g of protein, about 0% of the 50 g reference Daily Value.
Garlic is only a minor source of protein, and about 17% of its calories come from protein, which makes it more of an energy food than a protein food. Set against eggplant, another vegetable entry in the database, a serving carries about 0.6 g less protein (eggplant has 0.8 g per 1 cup cooked).
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