Garlic is a widely used ingredient in most of the cuisines. It is known for its flavour, aroma and health benefits. In today’s busy life, people usually look for easy and quick options rather than the hassle of peeling it and chopping it. So, some households use Garlic Powder as a substitute for fresh garlic . Not only it’s easy to use, it offers a longer shelf life, it has more flavour as well. The post below discusses the recipe to make garlic powder at home and the health benefits associated with it.
How To Make Garlic Powder
Garlic Powder is a dried, powdery texture of garlic which is usually made by drying out the fresh garlic cloves and then grinding them into a fine powder. This is known to be used in various forms of soups, garlic flavoured breads, pastas etc.
Garlic powder is preferred over fresh garlic by some households as it offers multiple benefits which include:
- The powder is adulteration Free
- It is fresh and in good quality without any preservatives.
- It is convenient to use
- It has a strong aroma and flavour
Benefits of Garlic Powder
Garlic Powder has been used by chefs in different cuisines. However, the spice cannot be neglected as it has various health benefits linked with it. Some of those are:
- It boosts immunity – Garlic has a compound which is known to boost immunity of the human body. It has antiviral properties which reduces the colds faced by humans.
- Helps to manage Blood Pressure – The spice has been used to improve heart health as it reduces the blood pressure of the patients who suffer from high BP levels.
- It has high amounts of antioxidants which prevents aging.
- It supports the gut health as it acts as a prebiotic
Garlic Powder v/s Garlic
Though fresh garlic and garlic powder, both have been known to be equally used by certain households, there are some key features that help a person to decide and choose for themselves.
| Properties | Garlic Powder | Fresh Garlic |
| Taste | Mild | Strong |
| Shelf Life | 8-12 months | 1-2 weeks |
| Nutrition | Low | High |
| Convenience | High | Moderate |
Garlic Powder : Recipe
Garlic Powder is an easy recipe which requires minimal ingredients and equipment.
Ingredients Required: Fresh Garlic Cloves
Recipe:
- Firstly, the cloves need to be peeled carefully.
- The cloves need to be sliced evenly to prevent burning and ease up the drying process. The thin slices dry up quickly.
- Now, these thin slices need to be kept in a preheated oven for about 6 hours.
- To check if the slice has dried, it needs to be cracked. If it is soft and bends, it needs more drying. However, if it snaps, it is a sign of complete drying up of the garlic clove.
- After complete drying, the slices need to be grinded. This can be done using a blender.
- Now, soft the powder through a strainer to get a fine powder.
- The powder is ready to be used and must be stored in an airtight container.
While making Garlic Powder at home, some things need to be looked after very carefully. These include:
- Drying the garlic cloves completely to avoid moisture retention which may cause the powder to mou;ld after a while.
- Using high heat for drying the cloves may burn the slices instead of speeding up the process.
- The powder should not be stored in a plastic container as the aroma may interfere with the plastic and give a different flavour.
Different Flavours of Garlic Powder
The process of drying may be modified a little to get different flavours of the garlic powder. For Instance,
- Roasting the cloves before the process of drying gives Roasted Garlic powder.
- A smoked Garlic Powder can be made by smoking the garlic slices with charcoal or other substances prior to drying the slices.
- Peri Peri or Chili Garlic powder can be made by simply adding and blending in some chilli flakes along with it.
FAQs Related To How To Make Garlic Powder: Benefits, Quick Recipe
- What is the recipe to make Garlic Powder ?
- The recipe requires slicing the bulbs and drying them up in an oven or dehydrator and grinding the product to get a fine power.
- How many bulbs are used to make a teaspoon of garlic powder?
- To make a teaspoon, it requires about 2-3 medium sized bulbs.
- Can one prepare onion powder using the same recipe?
- It may require additional drying and additional heat as onions have high water content as compared to garlic.
- How to store the final product?
- The final product needs to be stored in an airtight container, away from direct sunlight. It should not be stored in plastic boxes.
