Updated on April 9th, 2023
There are beliefs that garlic originated from west china around the Tien Shan mountains to Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan. Some historians believe that Sumerians were actively using garlic around 2600-2100 BC. But some archaeologists have found some older evidence of garlic usage in places like Egypt (1320BC), Greek (370-285 BC), amongst the list of others. Garlic is now a universal folk spice, food, and a well-rested remedy for various ailments.
Garlic is prized as the stinking rose, and there are three wide varieties: the white-skinned intensely flavored American garlic, the white-skinned mild-flavored elephant garlic, which is not real garlic. The green garlic, which is young garlic before it begins to form cloves; matching a baby leek, with a long green top and white bulb and the Mexican and Italian garlic, which have mauve-colored skins and a somewhat milder flavor;
The chemical properties of garlic give it relevance in the field of medicine. It is high in antioxidants and contains antibacterial and antimicrobial properties. Over the years, people have learned to produce garlic teas, tinctures and mix them with honey to cure a wide range of ailments such as; gastric infections, colds, fever, diarrhea, respiratory diseases, and some epidemics such as; cholera, influenza, typhus, and dysentery.
The garlic’s physical properties make it widely used as a seasoning to prepare different cuisines such as; soups, sauce, bread, meatballs, pasta, pizza, garlic rice, and marinade. It can be used mince or in fine form. Garlic powder has a lower moisture content, and it has an excellent texture consistency, more like flour. Garlic powder is more concentrated and an intense flavor.
Minced garlic is usually fresher than garlic powder. It can either be pre-made dried minced garlic or new full garlic bulbs minced. It has a more robust flavor, a more intense hot taste, and a rough texture. More important is that the flavor of pre-made garlic in a jar is milder than the freshly minced.
Minced Garlic Nutrition Facts:
Use in Different Types of Recipes
Garlic is used as a spice to add flavor, taste, and nutritional value to a meal. To get all the essential nutrients in garlic, you have to increase the quantity of consumption;100 grams of garlic cloves is rich in nutrients such as; vitamins B and C, dietary minerals, manganese, calcium, iron, and phosphorus. Recipes, where minced garlic can be used include;
- Garlic Meatloaf
- Salmon
- Chicken
- Garlic bread
- Sauce
Substitute Garlic Powder for Minced Garlic
If you’re cooking and find out you’re out of minced garlic, it is a good substitute for garlic powder. It will still add a garlicky flavor to your recipe. The taste varies in intensity and aroma. Its flavor is more concentrated and smells like roasted garlic. Garlic powder can be used in any recipe that calls for dried or fresh garlic. It is made from finely ground dehydrated garlic. It absorbs water and softens up.
One clove of garlic produces approximately ½ teaspoon of minced garlic. To substitute powdered garlic for minced garlic, the conversion is that half a teaspoon of jarred minced garlic is the equivalent of an eight teaspoon of garlic powder; this is because both measurements equal one garlic clove. Therefore, three teaspoons of minced garlic are equal to ¾ of a teaspoon of garlic powder.
Minced garlic can be used for recipes where garlic has to be sautèed in oil before adding the ingredients. When substituting with garlic powder, the garlic will be added with other base ingredients or added to the oil and continuously stirred because garlic powder will burn when sautéed.
Substitute garlic powder for minced garlic in the Garlic meatloaf recipe
In this recipe, the two teaspoons minced garlic sautéed can be substituted with ½ teaspoon powdered garlic stir-fried with the vegetables. It will have a more garlicky flavor.
Read More: Garlic Parmesan Wing Sauce Recipe
Substitute garlic powder for minced garlic in Aioli garlic mayonnaise sauce
This is a smooth sauce in which the two teaspoons minced garlic is crushed to a paste but substituting with ½ teaspoon powdered garlic mixed with the egg saves time and gives a smoother finish.
Substitute garlic powder for minced garlic in baked salmon with garlic
Baked salmon gets its fabulous flavor from minced garlic. 2 teaspoons of minced garlic can be replaced with ½ teaspoon powder garlic added to the parsley mixture. The mixture is smoother and flavorless.
Substitute garlic powder for minced garlic in butter chicken
Butter chicken has a creamy quality and mild spice intensity. The 1½ teaspoon minced garlic can be substituted with ¾ teaspoon garlic powder stir-fried with the onion and garlic and ginger or added to the tomato, pepper salt puree. The garlic powder gives an extra kick of flavor and makes it a more spicy taste.
Substitute garlic powder for minced garlic in cheesy garlic bread
This cheesy garlic bread is so full of flavor; it takes dinner time to the next level. The 1½ teaspoon minced garlic can be substituted with ¾ teaspoon garlic powder. This gives a smoother mixture for spreading on the bread to broil.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
How much garlic powder is equal to a tablespoon of minced garlic
1 tablespoon of minced garlic to powdered garlic would equal three-fourths of a tablespoon of garlic powder.
How does garlic powder compare to minced garlic?
Minced garlic is fresher than garlic powder and has a more robust flavor. Using minced garlic will also make the vegetable more recognizable in the dish.
What are some substitutes for minced garlic?
Apart from garlic powder, there are some excellent substitutes for minced garlic, which include;
- Granulated garlic. This provides flavor, but not texture
- Garlic flakes. To substitute, use 1/2 teaspoon garlic flakes for every ½ teaspoon of minced garlic
- Garlic salt. To replace 1/2 teaspoon garlic salt for every clove of fresh garlic is called for in a recipe. Reduce salt in a recipe.
- Asafetida (powder)
- Rocambole
- Garlic juice. It is used mostly when you want the flavor, but not the pungency, of garlic)
- Shallots
- Onions
- Garlic chives
Can you substitute garlic powder for garlic cloves?
Yes, you can! Substitute 1/8 teaspoon powder for every clove of garlic called for in the recipe.
Conclusion
Garlic powder is a good substitute for minced garlic, so if you’re out of minced garlic while cooking, pick up a jar of powdered garlic and incorporate it into the recipe. Although they come from the same bulb, they yield different tastes, textures, and flavors. While cooking, it is essential to use the two in ways that won’t alter the flavor and taste drastically. Garlic powder should not be sautéed, and it can either be stir-fried with other veggies or added while cooking like other seasoning powder.
To substitute powder garlic for minced garlic, it is vital to know the garlic-to-garlic powder ratio. You’re to use 1/8 teaspoon powder garlic for every ½ teaspoon of minced garlic called for in the recipe and ¾ for every three teaspoons of minced garlic. The garlic-to-garlic ratio is low because garlic powder is more potent than garlic cloves.
