Tips for peeling garlic quickly & how to prepare garlic in 7 ways

Are you a true garlic lover who prefers to have garlic with every meal? Then you've come to the right place! We suggest 7 different ways you can use garlic, ranging from fried garlic and fermented garlic to pressed garlic and grilled garlic, all to give you some variety in your garlic consumption. But for someone who eats garlic often, it can be frustrating when the skin on the garlic clove won't come off. Of course, you also want some tips and tricks on how to peel your garlic cloves in the simplest way possible, right? Check out our guide on 4 different ways to quickly peel garlic här:

• Press garlic with a knife: An effective method is to place garlic cloves under a wide knife and gently press down on the knife. This also makes it easy to peel several cloves at once.
• Shake garlic in jar: Place the garlic cloves in a jar, close the lid tightly, and shake vigorously for a few seconds. The skins will then come off, and you can easily pick out the peeled cloves.
• Press garlic under the palm of your hand: Place the garlic clove under your palm and gently press down with your hand. This will loosen the skin and make it easier to peel off from the clove.
• Heat garlic clove in the microwave: Drive the garlic cloves in the microwave for a few seconds. The heat will loosen the skin and make it easy to peel the garlic.

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Garlic recipes - How to use garlic in 7 different ways

Roasted whole garlic in the oven

To cook garlic cloves in the oven have we all probably tried at some point, but that rosta vitlök i ugn When it is whole, your cooking takes on a whole new level. A whole oven-baked garlic gives a wonderfully creamy consistency with a mild and sweet taste, while making it easier to squeeze the garlic cloves out of their skins.

To achieve a perfect oven-roasted garlic:

1. Set the oven to 200 degrees and peel the outer skin off the garlic.
2. Then place the garlic in a baking dish and brush with olive oil before roasting it for about 40 minutes.
3. Cut the garlic in half so the cloves are halved and squeeze out the contents.

Grill garlic on the grill

If you grill whole garlic cloves on the grill, they get a delicious smoky and intense flavor. Grilled garlic can then be pressed out and used in sauces, marinades, or as a flavor enhancer in various dishes.

To grill garlic:

1. Start by cutting off the top part of the wedges, but leave the skin on.
2. Brush with olive oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper.
3. Grill directly on the grill grate with the lid closed for 20-30 minutes. You know the wedges are done when they have a nice golden brown color.

Strong garlic flavor with pressed garlic

If you like a sharper garlic flavor, pressed garlic is perfect! Firm and fresh garlic is A and O when you want to press garlic, and that you have a good garlic press home of course! Peel the cloves according to one of our tips above, then place the garlic in the clamp of the garlic press and press.

Don't forget to scrape off any excess to get the most out of garlic for your cooking. Pressed garlic is excellent in sauces, marinades, salads, dressings, or to flavor oils when you want an extra strong garlic taste.

Should you grate or press garlic?

When you choose to press garlic You get a stronger and more penetrating garlic flavor in your food. If you prefer a milder taste and a more even consistency, you can grate garlic. Grated garlic is perfect for dishes where you just want a hint of garlic, such as in soup or dip sauce. In short, the choice between grating or pressing garlic simply depends on how strong a garlic flavor you want in your dish.

Press garlic without a press

Yes, you can! If you don't have access to one garlic press Is there a couple of other simple ways to press garlic:

1. Press garlic with a knife: place a garlic clove on a cutting board and press down the flat side of the knife blade over the clove until it is crushed. Then chop the crushed garlic finely with the knife.
2. Crush garlic with a mortar: Place the garlic clove in a mortar and mash it into a paste with the pestle. 

Both of these methods provide a similar effect to using a garlic press!

Chopped garlic for garlic butter

Since hackad vitlök is very versatile and can be used in a variety of dishes, it has become the classic method for preparing garlic. Chopped garlic goes well with everything from pasta and rice to stir-fried vegetables, but it also works very well when you want to create a really delicious garlic butter as a seasoning for example bread, vegetables, or grilled meat. If you choose to fry garlic It also gets a sweeter taste that may be preferred by some.

Here’s how to make a delicious garlic butter: 

1. Mix 100 g of room temperature butter, chopped garlic (2-3 cloves), and 1 tbsp of chopped parsley in a bowl.
2. Season with salt and pepper.
3. Shape into a roll and place in the fridge, or use directly.

Pickled garlic recipe

Is there any difference between pickling and making a brine? The answer is no. Both terms mean that you preserve a food item by adding some type of acid, such as vinegar or acetic acid.

Att pickla vitlök With a mixture of vinegar, sugar, and salt, it becomes a delicious addition to salads or sushi dishes, or why not as a flavorful accompaniment to a cheese platter or antipasto? Pickling in vinegar or acid gives the garlic a tangy and sweet flavor, and the best part is that it's as easy as pie! Ready-pickled garlic can be stored in the fridge for several months.

Here’s how to make pickled garlic: 

1. Boil 250 g peeled garlic cloves for 2 minutes and let cool.
2. Boil 2 dl of water, 2 dl of white wine vinegar, 1 tbsp of sugar, 1 tbsp of salt, and spices (e.g. bay leaves, peppercorns, etc.).
3. Place the garlic in a jar and pour the brine over it.
4. Seal the jar and let it sit for at least a week. 

Marinated garlic recipe

Marinated garlic gets a delicious and rich flavor that suits many dishes. Marinating vitlök i olja With fresh herbs, it becomes a perfect flavor enhancer in pasta, salads, or as a delicious topping on pizza, bruschetta, or grilled meat.

To achieve the most optimal marinated garlic, do the following: 

1. Start by peeling the garlic cloves according to one of our options above.
2. Place fresh herbs at the bottom of a glass jar with the garlic cloves on top.
3. Pour olive oil to cover the wedges and seal the lid of the jar tightly.
4. Let the garlic marinate in the oil in the refrigerator for at least a couple of days. The longer it marinates, the deeper the flavor will be.

Fermented garlic

Fermenterad vitlök gets a milder and more nuanced flavor than raw onion, and the fermentation increases the onion's nutritional value and provides an extra dose of probiotics for gut health. It is a fantastic addition to salads and dishes with rice or pasta.

To ferment garlic:

1. Start by peeling the cloves, you can choose whether to leave them whole or finely chop them depending on the desired result.
2. Place them in a glass jar and create a saline solution.
3. Let the saline solution cool and then cover the garlic in the jar with the liquid.
4. Place a kitchen towel or gauze on the jar and secure it with a rubber band.
5. Let the jar sit at room temperature and let the garlic ferment. The time may vary depending on the temperature and your desired result, but it can take a few weeks.
6. When you are satisfied, store the fermented garlic in the refrigerator to slow down the fermentation process.

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