Garlic Cooking Techniques for Beginners
- Peel the outer papery layer off and trim the bottom woody base
- Garlic is most easily and thoroughly minced with a garlic press
- Garlic presses are available at many retail stores with a cooking section or a cooking specialty store
- Place the clove in the middle hole or depression and squeeze hard, scrape the garlic that has been squeezed out onto a plate or cutting board
- To mince with a knife- use a wide-bladed knife and with the wide edge, press down until the bulb is crushed
- Dice into tiny pieces
The key to using fresh garlic is to release all the wonderful scent and flavor without burning. This is done by sautéing in oil for 30 seconds to a minute over low heat and then removing it to be added to the recipe later.