The Best Simple Garlic Substitutes

Vampires hate it. I love it. Recently my Irishman had to avoid garlic too help with his IBS issues. It wasn’t as hard as I thought. Here are my favourite simple garlic substitutes…

What is Garlic?

Garlic are little edible bulbs that are part of the onion family. It can be eaten raw or cooked and adds a unique complex flavour to a variety of cuisines.

The Best Garlic Substitutes

1. Garlic Oil

If you need to avoid garlic for digestive issues, garlic oil is an excellent option because the flavours are soluble in oil but the fibrious parts that can contribute to IBS are not oil soluble. So you can get the flavour without the pain.

You can buy commercial garlic oils, but I just marinate a few crushed cloves of garlic in olive oil for as long as I’ve got. Sometimes 10 minutes sometimes overnight. Then discard the garlic solids and use the beautifully flavoured oil.

2. Onion

If your recipes uses cooked garlic, adding cooked onion can add some of the complex flavours you’d expect from garlic. While many recipes call for both garlic and onion, I prefer to stick with either / or. This won’t help people with IBS problems.

3. Garlic Chives

Fresh chopped garlic chives added at the end of cooking will add a fresh burst of garlicky flavour. Differnt to cooked garlic but lovely none the less.

OK for people following a low FODMAP protocol as well.

4. Lemon Zest

In places where you are using raw garlic, finely chopped lemon zest can be an excellent substitute. It adds a lemony freshness that is different to the sharp pungency of raw garlic, but will lift the flavours of your dish in a simlar fashion.

How to Store Garlic

While braids of garlic can be beautiful, the light will cause the garlic to sprout prematurely. I store my garlic in a brown paper bag in a cool dark corner of my pantry.

When is Garlic in Season?

Garlic store well so can be used most of the year. It is harvested in early Summer so that is when the flavours are at their freshest and strongest.

Delicious Garlic Flavour Pairings

Chilli & Garlic
Ginger & Garlic
Chicken & Garlic
Onion & Garlic