Black garlic is one of the most used ingredients in recipes as it has gained popularity for its moderate spicy flavor and warm tones, which enhance the flavor of many recipes. Given its exceptional health benefits and high nutritional value, it has become a popular ingredient in recipes around the globe. Black garlic is made as a result of the slow fermentation process of white garlic at a specific humidity and temperature levels, which increases the concentration. It’s a common addition to cheese, chicken, and bread in western cuisines. However, it’s not very popular, which makes it challenging to source for many people. So, if you need some substitutes, we have listed them down!
Substitutes For Black Garlic
- Garlic Oil
The first and most convenient substitute is to opt for garlic oil, and it wouldn’t be wrong to call it a blessing. That’s because it is easy to find and has an improved flavor. The garlic oil has a warm and strong flavor of black garlic without having to worry about accessibility. The garlic oil is produced after steam distillation and is blended with other oils to create strong flavor notes. In addition to flavoring the recipes, garlic oil can be used as a medication to achieve a healthy body and strong immune system.
- Garlic Powder
As the name suggests, it has a fine texture because it is made by grinding dried garlic into fine powder. The garlic powder is readily available at supermarkets and grocery stores. It can be added to a variety of recipes, including salad dressings, soups, pizzas, and stews. It is made from original garlic and has a well-rounded flavor of garlic. However, it might be too dry for some recipes, which is why it’s recommended that you sprinkle it on the food while it’s still on the stove as heat expands the garlic powder. As far as replacement is concerned, you can use 1/8 teaspoon of garlic powder in place of one black garlic clove.
- Minced Garlic
The minced garlic is readily available in a jarred form and is extremely easy to consume and handy. What we love about this substitute is that it has a warm flavor of black garlic and is ready to use – many people prepare it to make liquids but it depends on the recipe. However, while purchasing the minced garlic, it’s recommended that you check the manufacturing date and make sure it’s recently jarred because old jars might have a weird flavor. All in all, you have to use half a teaspoon of minced garlic to replace one black garlic clove.
- Garlic Paste
Garlic paste is another substitute for black garlic and it is readily available in grocery stores. It is available in the form of a jar as well as a tube. The best thing about garlic paste is that its flavor is similar to black garlic but many people find the flavor stronger, given the concentration. Keep in mind that adding other ingredients can change the flavor of your recipes, such as salt and pepper. Still, it’s fine to use one teaspoon of garlic paste for one clove of black garlic.
- Garlic Salt
Garlic salt is basically seasoning salt, which is a combination of dried garlic and salt. It is available in powdered form and tends to be saltier as compared to fresh black garlic. For this reason, it’s recommended that you start by adding less garlic salt to make sure it doesn’t ruin your recipe’s flavor. In addition, you must reduce the quantity of white salt in the recipe if you’ve to use garlic salt.
Additional Things To Consider
While we have already mentioned a few substitutes, there are a few points that you’ve to keep in mind, including;
- Keep in mind that no substitute will replicate the flavor accurately because some of them have more concentrated and powerful flavors. For this reason, it’s best that you taste the substitutes a bit to understand the flavor
- If you are using the dry substitutes, it’s recommended that you make a liquid form by mixing it with water to make sure it blends well
All in all, all these substitutes are pretty amazing but you’ve to be careful about the difference in texture and flavor!