Garlic is a commonly used ingredient in many dishes around the world.
Cooking with garlic can be a great way to add flavor and depth to your dish, but if you don’t have a blender or food processor on hand, how will you puree it?
Don’t worry! It’s easier than you think. We’ll go over three ways that work well for getting finely chopped or pureed garlic without any fancy kitchen gadgets:
A Mortar And Pestle
This is the most traditional way to puree garlic.
Simply peel off a clove of fresh, raw (or cooked) peeled cloves from your head or jarred whole bulbs then place them in an old-fashioned stone bowl with rounded sides called “mortar.”
Add some salt for flavor if you like before pounding the garlic with a heavy pestle.
The salt helps to break down and release some of those flavorful oils from inside each clove, making it easier for you!
A Fork
This is an easy way if all else fails or when time doesn’t allow much prep work before cooking your meal (or in my case I’m too lazy to get out the mortar and pestle).
To puree garlic using a fork, simply peel off a clove of fresh, raw (or cooked) peeled cloves from your head or jarred whole bulbs then place them on the tines.
Hold it over an open flame for about 30 seconds to release some flavor and heat before pounding with a fork until you have that desired consistency!
A Food Processor
This is a great option if you have one and don’t need to use it for anything else afterward, but be careful not to over-process the garlic or your dish will end up tasting like pureed baby foods!
Add some salt before processing so that those flavorful oils are released from inside each clove.
Click here for ways to puree other foods without a blender.
Storage
1. Store garlic puree in a glass jar with a tight-fitting lid.
2. Place the jar on your countertop or pantry shelf.
3. Use within 2 months.
What To Use It For?
1. Use garlic puree to make a sauce for pasta, vegetables, or meat.
2. Add it to soups and stews.
3. Make an herb butter with garlic puree and chopped herbs (rosemary, thyme).
4. Mix it into mashed potatoes or other mashed root veggies like carrots or parsnips.
5. Add it to scrambled eggs.
Conclusion
As you see, you can puree garlic without a blender.
The mortar and pestle is the most traditional option, but you can also use your hands or any other kitchen tool that will do it for ya!
If all else fails (or if there’s no time to get out those tools), just grab some garlic cloves from either fresh heads of raw bulbs in jars at home then smash them with the side of a knife.
A processor is a great option if you have one and don’t need to use it for anything else afterward, but be careful not the over-process or your dish will end up tasting like pureed baby food!
