How to Mince Garlic

Besides adding flavor to the dish, this spice also has some medicinal benefits. You can mince, crush, pate, or use whole cloves while cooking. In this story, we will see how to mince garlic and also read about some other related information.

Garlic, also known as stinking rose, is an edible bulb. It is made up of small sections called cloves. These cloves are encased in a parchment-like membrane cover. It is available in various shapes, sizes, color and flavor, all across the globe.

It is a common ingredient used while cooking in most cuisines around the world, because even a small amount of this spice, enhances the flavor of any dish in a significant manner. Along with enhancing flavors, it also has several medicinal attributes, which is why it is regarded as an important ingredient in several dishes.

However, often you will notice that recipes demand this spice in a minced form. The following section will tell you how to mince it properly, so that you can use this strong-smelling spice to season various dishes, in order to enhance their taste and flavor.

Preparing minced garlic from cloves can be time-consuming. Using a peeler can be a great idea to save some time. We will now see how to mince this spice.

• Take a whole bulb of fresh garlic. The cloves should be tightly held together. Ensure that it is fresh and not discolored.

• Now, first separate the cloves by placing the bulb root-side on a hard surface and press it down firmly with the heel of your hand, till the cloves separate.
• Take a clove and lay it flat on a hard surface.
• Now using your thumb, press the clove from one side, until the cover begins to crack.

• Now peel off the cover. Sometimes, there can be more than one layer of cover, hence make sure that all the layers have come out.
• Now chop it roughly. You can use the same method, as you would adopt when chopping onions. Make few horizontal cuts on the clove and then a series of vertical cuts. After which you can dice the sticks.

• Now to mince it properly, chop it in a constant up-down motion, for which you will have to keep the tip of the knife on the cutting board and move the handle up and down.
• While mincing, if you notice that the pieces are moving away from the knife, stop the rocking motion, draw the cloves close to one another and continue mincing.

1 clove produces 1 tsp. of chopped garlic, which is equivalent to ½ tsp. of minced garlic, that in turn is equal to 1/8 tsp. garlic powder or ¼ tsp. of granulated garlic, that can be a great substitute for garlic juice. You can substitute ½ tsp. of juice for ½ tsp. of minced garlic.

If you cannot find whole bulbs, then you can also make use of substitutes. You can make use of granulated garlic, which will provide great flavor, but no texture to your dish. Powder can also be used if you don't want to mince fresh cloves. You can also use garlic salt and juice. The other substitutes include asafoetida powder, shallots, onions, or chives.

When you store minced garlic, it is recommended that you do so in a refrigerator. Zip locking freezer bags is the best option you can use and store it in the freezer. Apart from the method mentioned above, you can also use the garlic-mincer or garlic press for mincing. This will save you a lot of time, especially when you are in a rush.