Garlic is a widely used, delicious ingredient that enhances our cooking. In many cultures, it is a staple addition, and without it, food may taste bland and unsatisfying. Initially, using garlic seems simple, but chefs are using certain techniques that you may be unaware of. Below is a quick guide on how to up-level your garlic game.
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Professional Preparation
Many people aren’t aware that the way you prepare garlic has an impact on flavor. Using whole cloves gives a mild taste to your food. This is preferable to use when roasting meat or vegetables in a tray. Moreover, chopped cloves are advisable for many dishes because they will provide a medium taste by releasing more juice and oil. For the garlic lovers amongst us, you’ll want to chop your garlic cloves as small as possible to get the strongest result. It’s also worth growing your own organic garlic for a more authentic garlic essence. Luckily, this is achievable and affordable because there is readily available organic garlic for sale.
Smash Them Up!
As mentioned above, chopping up garlic into small pieces intensifies the flavoring, but did you know smashing the cloves has a similar effect? For the same reasons, smashing using a blunt object or garlic crusher enables those flavorsome oils and juices to be released directly. Therefore, it also makes it easier to peel the cloves to save you some time. Amazingly, there has been research on the benefits of smashed garlic. Studies have shown that crushing releases sulfuric compounds that lower our blood pressure and help us reduce the risk of blood clots.
Try Oven Roasted Garlic
Roasting a garlic bulb will caramelize it so you can eat them straight out of the oven! This is an ideal technique for garlic butter or dips and even makes the garlic more digestible. Many chefs incorporate roasted garlic when cooking, and it certainly adds a Je nesais quoito their dishes. For some delicious recipes, visit Wicked Noodle and reap the rewards of roasting!
To Peel or Not to Peel?
Normally, people peel their garlic without knowing that throwing away the peel is unnecessary because it has many uses. You can use garlic peel in a plethora of recipes; If you are making a strained sauce, keeping the peel on adds extra flavor without changing the texture of the food. Garlic peel is also great for soup stocks. Furthermore, you can crush an unpeeled garlic clove up with a pestle and mortar and knead it into your dough when making bread or pizza. Surprisingly, garlic peel should be utilized in cooking as much as possible because it harbors nutritional value. Packed with vitamins and antioxidants, studies show that this often-discarded ingredient reduces the risk of cholesterol and a variety of chronic diseases.
In addition to the information above, it’s also worth noting the different yields and types of garlic, such as Creole or Elephant because some are milder than others. Whether you are peeling, smashing, chopping, or roasting, we hope this guide has been of use and you enjoy some gratifying, garlicky dishes!
