Garlic bulb
A bulb of garlic — pungent, multi-cloved, capable of protecting and overwhelming in the same gesture.
A garlic bulb in a dream is the dream's image of a pungent ingredient that protects and overwhelms in the same gesture. Garlic in folklore wards off harm; in the kitchen it can either lift a dish or drown it. The dream brings garlic when something in your life — a piece of plain speech, a strong personality, a protective rule — is doing double duty, defending the space and also dominating it. A garlic clove used in the right number is the dream affirming the protection. A whole bulb dropped into a small dish is the dream noting that the protective force is now louder than what it was meant to defend.