Garlic cloves *add incredible flavors* to meals, making them instant hits. These tiny gems are perfect for **jazzing up** every dish.
Roast the cloves in olive oil, and they melt in your mouth like butter.
Eat them raw to ward off cough and cold infections.
In addition to being flavorsome, garlic cloves, in whatever form, are chock-full of significant benefits.
So, what are garlic cloves?
Garlic cloves are small, individual segments contained in a garlic bulb.
There are about 10-20 cloves in a single head of garlic covered in a very thin papery outer skin.
This herb-like vegetable can be used for culinary purposes as seasoning along with other health benefits like boosting your immunity.
This guide will explain in detail what cloves of garlic are and their benefits.
It will also provide you with two of the best, easy, quick, and fun recipes to make with readily available ingredients.
How many garlic cloves are in a head of garlic?
Generally, an average head of garlic from the grocery store will contain about 10 to 12 cloves.
However, not all garlic bulbs are created equal as some may have fewer cloves, like five, while others may have up to 20 or more.
How many teaspoons is a clove of garlic?
When minced, a single clove of garlic may yield about ½ to 1½ teaspoons, depending on the size of the clove.
However, if you’re cooking and the recipe calls for a teaspoon or more of garlic cloves, the easiest way to calculate is by crushing them up and measuring them.
If your garlic bulb has small cloves, you may need two to three garlic cloves for one teaspoon.
Similarly, if you’re working with a medium-sized bulb, one clove of crushed garlic can give you roughly one teaspoon.
How much garlic powder equals one garlic clove?
While garlic powder may not substitute real garlic, here’s a quick conversion if you’re using the garlic powder to clove ratio.
One-eighth teaspoon of garlic powder equals one standard-sized clove, while the same conversion applies to 1/4 teaspoon of granulated garlic powder.
Health benefits of garlic
Garlic has numerous real health benefits that are backed by human research.
Some of these benefits include:
- Protect against cough and cold infections – Garlic is a powerful antibiotic known to boost the function of the immune system. Its supplements may help prevent or reduce the gravity of illnesses such as the common cold. If you have a cold, you can also try adding garlic to your diet to help lessen the symptoms
- Reduce blood pressure – The active compounds in garlic can help reduce blood pressure associated with cardiovascular diseases, such as heart attack and stroke. For people with hypertension, high doses of garlic can help improve their blood pressure significantly
- Helps improve cholesterol levels – Garlic can significantly lower LDL (bad) cholesterol, especially for people with high cholesterol levels. However, it doesn’t affect the HDL (good) cholesterol and triglycerides
- Prevent Alzheimer’s disease and dementia – Garlic is rich in antioxidants that support the body’s protective mechanisms against oxidative damage. Aged garlic extract has high antioxidant properties, as well as numerous bio-activities that may help reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s disease and dementia
- Improve athletic performance – Garlic has been used since ancient times to reduce fatigue and help with exercise performance for athletes. This is because it releases nitric oxide, a compound that relaxes blood vessels and lowers blood pressure while supplying more oxygen to working muscles
- Helps detoxify heavy metals in the body – Garlic is rich in sulfur compounds that protect against organ damage from heavy metal toxicity. High doses of garlic every day may potentially reduce lead toxicity in the blood and related symptoms
- Improve bone health – Garlic may have some beneficial effects on bone health as it’s known to increase estrogen levels in females
- Reduce blood clotting – Garlic may help guard against atherosclerosis. In this process, plaque buildup leads to a hardening and narrowing of the arteries. The sulfur compounds in garlic irreversibly inhibit platelet aggregation, reducing the risk of blood clots
While garlic may be associated with plenty of health benefits, it’s meant to supplement, not replace your doctor’s prescription.
Always consult your doctor before using garlic as a supplement, as it may not fit your specific health conditions while determining the right therapy.
How to prepare garlic cloves quickly with a garlic press
Several perks come with using a garlic press when mincing your garlic cloves.
From not having to peel the garlic cloves to easily grinding large amounts in the shortest time possible or preventing garlicky fingers.
Here’s one of the best methods.
How to peel and mince cloves of garlic
The easiest way to peel and crush garlic cloves is by simply popping them in the chamber of your garlic press and squeezing the handle.
This will crush your garlic cloves and turn them into a paste-like consistency while leaving the skin intact in the chamber.
A garlic press creates a decadent garlic flavor as it breaks down the cloves thoroughly, releasing a fine mush that integrates well with other ingredients.
Recipes to use up garlic cloves
If you’re a garlic lover, these two recipes will easily become a winner in your home.
Garlic bread
This classic garlic bread recipe calls for lots of butter and garlic heaped onto warm, moist, and fluffy French bread.
Serve it with a side of crispy green salad or alongside eggs in purgatory for a quick and light meal.
Ingredients:
- 1½ sticks (12 tablespoons) of unsalted butter
- Four cloves of garlic, finely chopped
- One large soft Italian or French loaf
- 1/4 cup grated Parmesan
- Kosher salt
- Two tablespoons flat-leaf parsley leaves, finely chopped
Directions:
- Arrange a rack in the center of the oven and preheat to 450 degrees F.
- Melt the butter in a small skillet over medium heat.
- Add the garlic and cook, occasionally stirring, until the butter is golden and the garlic is very fragrant, about 3 minutes.
- Slice the bread in half lengthwise.
- Turn the bread cut-side up. Slice crosswise at 2-inch intervals without cutting through, making pull-apart garlic bread.
- Generously brush the cut sides of the bread with more garlic butter, spreading it evenly over the top.
- Carefully transfer the bread to a rimmed baking sheet.
- Sprinkle the loaves with the Parmesan and a pinch of salt and bake until the edges of the bread are a deep golden brown, 10 to 15 minutes.
- Top with the parsley and serve warm.
Garlic mashed potatoes
A perfect mashed potato recipe may require adding some garlic cloves to the milk for an irresistible taste as it infuses it with more flavor.
This mashed potato recipe with garlic epitomizes a delicious, hearty meal.
Ingredients:
- Eight potatoes, peeled and quartered
- ½ cup milk
- ¼ cup butter
- Two cloves of garlic, minced
- salt to taste
- One pinch of ground white pepper
- Two tablespoons of sesame seeds
Directions:
- Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Add potatoes and boil until soft, 20 to 25 minutes.
- Drain potatoes and place them in a large bowl.
- Add milk, butter, garlic, salt, and pepper to potatoes.
- Beat with an electric mixer or mash with a potato masher until potatoes reach the desired consistency.
- Transfer potatoes to a serving bowl and sprinkle with sesame seeds.
How to store peeled garlic cloves
There are several ways to store peeled garlic cloves, depending on the duration you intend to keep them and the expected use.
If you intend to store garlic cloves for a few days, place them in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to one week.
However, if you need to keep your garlic cloves for longer, store them in a mesh bag in a well-ventilated, cool, dark place.
This will help prevent your garlic cloves from sprouting or going bad.
FAQs
How do you crush garlic cloves?
You crush garlic cloves by placing each clove on your chopping board.
Lay the flat side of the knife on top of the clove.
Press the blade down onto the clove using the heel of your hand.
Crush it while separating the skin from the clove.
Lay the flat side of your knife over the clove and smash it again to crush the already peeled garlic.
What’s the difference between crushed and minced garlic?
The most immediate difference between crushed and minced garlic is the intensity of the flavor.
Crushed garlic gives a milder flavor over time, while minced garlic has a deep, instant flavor.
In conclusion
There you have it!
Now that you have the right information on cloves of garlic, go forth and use them in your cooking.
Be sure to experiment with different methods of crushing and mincing the garlic to find the perfect taste for your dish.
Don’t forget to store any leftover garlic properly to ensure it stays fresh.
While garlic does have a strong flavor, used correctly it can enhance the taste of many dishes.
So get cooking and enjoy!
Garlic French Loaf Recipe
Equipment
- 1 oven
Ingredients
- 1½ sticks unsalted butter
- 4 cloves garlic finely chopped
- 1 French loaf
- 1/4 cup grated Parmesan
- Kosher salt
- 2 tablespoons flat-leaf parsley leaves finely chopped
Instructions
- Arrange a rack in the center of the oven and preheat to 450 degrees F.
- Melt the butter in a small skillet over medium heat.
- Add the garlic and cook, occasionally stirring, until the butter is golden and the garlic is very fragrant, about 3 minutes.
- Slice the bread in half lengthwise.
- Turn the bread cut-side up. Slice crosswise at 2-inch intervals without cutting through, making pull-apart garlic bread.
- Generously brush the cut sides of the bread with more garlic butter, spreading it evenly over the top.
- Carefully transfer the bread to a rimmed baking sheet.
- Sprinkle the loaves with the Parmesan and a pinch of salt and bake until the edges of the bread are a deep golden brown, 10 to 15 minutes.
- Top with the parsley and serve warm.
Video
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I have a true passion for cooking and experimenting with new ingredients, and I have been creating and perfecting recipes for friends and family for years.
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