Garlic has been a staple of the Italian food scene for thousands of years. While most Italian food is centered around pork it does not mean that we do not have garlic in many of our favorite dishes. You may have heard that there is a secret method to how to mince garlic but there really is no secret method. The secret is simply garlic's delicate nature when minced and in the hands of the right person it can be very tender yet still very flavorful.
To mince garlic you will need: Fresh garlic - about 1.5 cups chopped fresh garlic. We are going to use the small clove of garlic that comes with the bulb cut from the stalk. We want to keep the bulb intact for best flavor. You can also buy garlic powder or rock salt to help with the salt/garlic release.
A food processor or a food chopper with a grinder attachment is usually needed for this process. You can also purchase a garlic press which helps to uniformly chop the garlic into a fine paste. You can find these at your local market as well as at large home improvement stores.
Step one is to grate your garlic clove. You can do this by using a nutmeg grater, an electrical mortar and pestle, or a food chopper with a blade attachment. If your clove is big, you can use a garlic press as well. Just remember not to press too hard as to bruise the garlic clove.
Step two is to remove the bulb from the head of garlic cloves. This step may be easier than it sounds. All you have to do is grasp the bottom of the clove, squeeze it to squeeze out the juice and then pull it off the stem. It works great because the sharp end of the knife will get most of the juice which will help with the cutting process. You can also use your fingernail for this last step. Just be sure not to get too close to the root end as you don't want to end up cutting the clove instead of cutting the garlic clove.
Step three is to chop the garlic clove and add this minced garlic to your crock pot. Add about two cups of water to the crock pot and bring it to a simmer. You may need to cover the lid for about an hour. This will yield enough garlic cloves for about three meals but it all depends on how much garlic you are able to get through your mill.
Step four is to set the garlic clove and press down gently into a strainer. There is no need to press too hard. Just remember that the garlic cloves are very delicate so just take your time. Once the garlic clove has been pressed into a strainer and drained you will now want to add the liquid of course. If there are any lumps of garlic in the liquid make sure to extract these before you pour the rest of the liquid into your press. This way you will be sure that everything is smooth and even.
The last step is to use your pestle and break the clove in half. Then add your salt and pepper to taste. This may be your favorite part of the meal or you may like to do something different. Either way it will be sure to be a hit at your next dinner party! As you can see how to mince garlic cloves is quite simple. Now all you have to do is remember to press those garlic cloves down into a strainer and enjoy the tasty results of this classic kitchen ingredient!
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