Garlic salt is one of the many kitchen wonders that all of us adore. It makes a quick meal taste better.
Moreover, it gives you more control over the contents of flavor you’re looking to add in your recipe. Thanks to its precision and consistent flavors, Garlic salt can also be used as seasoning over regular snacks like fried chicken, popcorn, french fries, etc.
In contrast, garlic salt has numerous health benefits ranging from lowering cholesterol in your blood to sugar levels. It is a great anti-inflammatory agent that you can use for digestive purposes, and if not anything else, it makes any mundane food item resurface back to life.
Garlic salt, as you know, is a mixture of garlic and salt, making it conveniently replaceable. So if you run out of garlic salt, don’t bother canceling plans. Below are simple alternatives that you can get your hands on from the comfort of your home at any time. And they are just as stimulating for your tastebuds!
What do doctors say about the benefits of garlic in our food?
“Garlic contains phytochemicals such as allicin and organosulfur compounds. These phytochemicals (or plant compounds) are responsible for the plant’s heart-healthy, immune-supportive, anti-inflammatory, and nutritional properties.”
– Dr. Sudha Raj, a teaching professor at Syracuse University’s Falk College of Sport and Human Dynamics in Syracuse, New York.
Regarding the digestive benefits of garlic, Dr Wendy Bazilian, a doctor of public health and nutritionist in San Diego also added that it “may help decrease the production of cholesterol by the liver.”
Dr. Bazilian also recommends increasing our garlic intake in foods like pasta, stir-fries, roasted vegetables, sauces, etc.
Paste it up: Garlic & Salt
A garlic and salt paste is an ingenious substitute that you need to incorporate in your kitchen today. The idea that you can always chop a few garlic cloves and mash them in with salt to create a paste simplifies the task exponentially.
- You’ll need four to six fresh garlic cloves.
- Two teaspoons of salt.
- Chop the fresh garlic into fine pieces and add the salt.
- Mash the minced garlic with the salt to the point the garlic disappears into a thick paste.
- The salt crystals dissolve nicely into garlic juices to create an effective paste.
The Good & The Bad:
- A distinct garlic flavor without biting into chunks of garlic.
- Relatively stronger in flavor than garlic salt, so it can be flavorful.
- One paste, two flavors.
- Easy to prepare.
- You may have to use it conservatively because of its strong garlic presence.
Got the Juice: Garlic Juice & Salt
Garlic juice is brilliant for its various aspects, but the most important one being that its liquid. Garlic powder, because of its finely grounded form, easily blends into any food item, and garlic juice achieves the same because of its liquid form.
- Add two teaspoons of garlic juice and ⅔ teaspoons of salt for every teaspoon of garlic salt.
- Garlic juice goes hand in hand with meat marinades, salad dressings, and dishes like ramen noodles, soups, and hummus.
The Good & The Bad
- Lesser garlicky taste than garlic powder.
- The liquid form makes it very versatile.
- It has multiple uses and can be added to various foods.
- Garlic juice has all the attributes of garlic salt in liquid form; once you add salt to the juice.
Mince it up: Fresh Garlic & Kosher Salt
If you don’t have garlic powder or granulated garlic at home, you can always opt for minced garlic with kosher salt to get the job done.
- To make garlic salt worth one teaspoon, you’ll need two garlic cloves and ¾ teaspoons of kosher salt.
- Before you start, peel the cloves of garlic and finely mince them into tiny pieces.
- Add the kosher salt and thoroughly blend them and store in a container for later use.
- Keep in mind, minced garlic and salt has to be used quickly enough as they are made with fresh garlic.
The Good & The Bad
- Garlic and kosher salt is a temporary solution as they cannot be used later because of fresh garlic.
- Fresh garlic components leave a strong garlicky presence.
- Minced garlic and kosher salt isn’t as versatile as garlic powder or garlic juice.
Oily Business: Garlic Oil & Salt
Garlic oil is an innovative component to use to make garlic salt. It will be as effective as garlic powder and juice to mix into and blend flavors efficiently. However, the salt crystals are undissolvable in garlic oil but won’t be an issue for most uses.
- Peel a handful of garlic cloves and crush them with a knife.
- Keep the crushed cloves soaked in hot oil overnight, and your substitute will be ready to go in the morning.
- It is a great idea to make your garlic salt with hot oil the night before parties. They go well with barbecues, salad dressings, etc.
The Good & The Bad
- Salt crystals do not dissolve in oil, and hence garlic oil and salt cannot be used in many recipes.
- The oil content may be too heavy for some food items.
- Garlic oil and salt is just as effective as garlic powder and juice.
- Strong garlic flavor.
Powdery Solution: Garlic Powder & Salt
Garlic powder is an excellent substitute when combined with salt. It already comes with grounded and dried garlic as the main component, making the task more convenient.
- Use ⅛ teaspoon of garlic powder for every ⅞ teaspoon of salt.
- In simpler terms, use the same amount of garlic powder as you would with garlic salt, adding a pinch of salt every time.
- Remember to store it in an airtight container.
- You can use this alternative on sauteed veggies, meat marinades, grilled meat and fish, and on your french fries and snacks.
The Good & The Bad
- Garlic powder is a dynamic salt substitute that can be used for preparing or seasoning across various recipes and food items.
- Convenient and available to make at home.
- Strong flavor and clear taste; therefore measurements need to be accurate to avoid ruining the overall taste.
Mustard Powder
We don’t always have to stick with garlic to substitute garlic salt. Various alternatives like mustard powder can be a perfect replacement with added benefits. Moreover, it may be a good idea to reduce your sodium consumption by opting for mustard powder. It is slightly spicier and comes with a biting odor.
- For every teaspoon of garlic salt, use ½ teaspoon of mustard powder.
- It brings health benefits like tackling diabetes, high blood pressure, heart or kidney diseases, etc.
- Since the mustard powder is yellow, it may bring change to the color of your dish when cooked.
The Good & The Bad
- The mustard powder has a pungent smell and yellow color.
- Good for diabetic patients, cardiac issues, blood regulation, etc.
- Powdered form easily blends in with food.
Onion Powder
Onion powder, like garlic, comes from dried and grounded onions. It is an everyday substitute for garlic salt, especially for people suffering from numerous heart diseases, diabetes, high blood pressure, etc. Onion powder sometimes comes with salt, but only in minimal amounts.
- Onion powder can be used across stews, bagels, and pretzels, for making sauces and dips, and on salad dressings.
- Use onion powder like garlic salt, but you may need to add a little salt from time to time.
The Good & The Bad
- Numerous health benefits ranging from heart disease to kidney disease.
- Available in most departmental stores.
- Cheaper alternative.
- Distinctive onion flavor and odor.
Garlic Salt: Just Make Your Own
Garlic salt equals garlic powder and salt of any kind. It is pretty easy to make at home if you just combine the two readily available components. Moreover, you don’t get the precise ratio of flavors you’d want personally with packaged garlic salt. Making your garlic salt gives you that advantage.
- Add more garlic for a distinct garlicky flavor or add more salt to tone it down.
- Bring together garlic powder or granulated garlic, kosher or table salt, dried parsley (optional).
- Use a 3:1 ratio of salt to garlic.
- For a grainy texture, use kosher salt with granulated garlic, and for a smoother texture, use table salt with garlic powder.
- Once done, store the salt in an airtight container to keep it fresh.
- The ratio is critical, and so you can manually check the flavor while making the salt by adding garlic in small amounts adjusted to your taste.
You can also make garlic salt in substantial amounts from fresh garlic. If you have enough garlic at home, perhaps from a backyard garden, then it’s time to put them to use. Garlic salt is expensive, and it is both intelligent and practical to make your own when you have garlic ready.
- You’ll require half a cup of garlic cloves and a cup of salt.
- Put the peeled cloves in the food processor and add the cup of salt.
- Pulse the combination until the garlic is minced and the mixture feels like paste.
- Spread the mixture onto a baking sheet and dry it in the oven at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for an hour.
- Once it’s dry, put the results into the food processor again (make sure it is cleaned) and pulse. When it reaches the powdery consistency you seek, store it in an airtight Tupperware.
The Good & The Bad
- Very practical and easy to make.
- Saves money.
- Allows you to bring your own flavor and texture ratio; more garlic/salt.
- The taste may need adjusting if done wrong, therefore needs careful consideration with the proportion of ingredients.
FAQ
1. How much garlic salt is a garlic clove worth?
One clove of garlic amounts to ½ teaspoon of garlic salt roughly. Garlic salt has a saltier and distinctive taste than fresh garlic.
2. Is garlic salt healthier than table salt?
Garlic salt has lesser salt than regular salt. However, the change in sodium consumption is minimal and therefore not necessarily healthier. It is always best to use accurate measurements to avoid too much salt in your diet.
3. What are some of the critical health benefits associated with garlic salt?
Garlic salt is made of garlic powder and salt, rich in numerous vitamins and minerals. It helps tackle blood sugar levels, high blood pressure, and various heart diseases. It also helps in lowering cholesterol levels in the blood, improves digestive issues, and even fights cancer!
4. Why might I substitute garlic salt in the first place?
A lot of us don’t use garlic salt at all for health reasons, if not flavor preferences. Many people suffer from garlic allergies and cannot stand the smell of garlic for that reason. While others prefer minimal sodium consumption, and some of us just choose a different flavor to go with.
Final Word
Garlic is one of the key ingredients in any kitchen that makes our food worth having. Many chefs will tell you, and their secret recipes are all wonders of a garlicky experiment. It is something you can grow in your backyard garden and do lots with.
Italians love garlic for its distinct smell and strong flavor, but it also has health benefits. If you run out of garlic salt today, now you know how to get around without losing that edge in your cooking.
Our recommendation would be garlic powder and salt for their ability to blend in and how easy it is to make. However, garlic juice and salt or garlic oil and salt would be the next alternatives on our list.
