5 Garlic Recipes That Are Dripping with Flavor

Garlic for Garlic Recipes — Photo by **Julian Schwarzenbach** from **Pexels**

If there’s one ingredient that can bring out the best in any dish (from seafood to veggies), it’s garlic. The humble bulb is as aromatic as it is flavorful, and studies show that, despite its small size, it packs some serious medicinal properties (i.e., boosts immunity⁽¹⁾, reduces the severity of a cold⁽²⁾, zaps cancer-causing free radicals⁽³⁾, etc.). So, if you want to reap these health benefits (and flavor up your meals), these 5 garlic recipes will help you use more of the bulb into your cooking – especially now that National Garlic Day⁽⁴⁾ (April 19th) is right around the corner.

PS: If stinky fingers are keeping you from enjoying the bulb, don’t fret! These recipes use dried garlic instead of fresh, which means you can savor all the flavor without the funk.

1. Sautéed Garlic Soup

Although unusual, this soup has everything going for it: looks (its creamy white hue is so soothing), taste (TVP bacon certainly helps), nutrition (fiber from the bulb and quality protein from the TVP), and just enough spunk to make everyone ask for seconds (courtesy of the garlic).

Ingredients:

¾ cup dried garlic (sliced)
¼ cup dried onions
3 tbsp olive oil
½ cup parmesan cheese
¾ cup heavy cream
3 cups vegetable stock
¼ cup TVP bacon bits (plus one tablespoon)
Salt & pepper, to taste

Directions:

Add the garlic, onion, and ¼ cup bacon to a bowl full of warm water and soak for 15 minutes. Once hydrated, squeeze away excess liquid and set aside.
In a pot, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Stir in the garlic, onions, and bacon and sauté for 4-5 minutes or until they are fragrant and slightly crispy.
Then, transfer to a blender along with 2 cups of stock and puree until smooth.
Return to the pot, add the remaining cup of stock, salt, and pepper, and bring to a simmer. Cook for 5-7 minutes.
Stir in the heavy cream and parmesan and cook 5 minutes more until the soup thickens. Top with the remaining TVP bacon and serve.

2. Everything Garlic Bread

The perfect combination of garlic, onion, salt, sesame, and poppy seeds, everything bagel seasoning is a surefire way to turn your regular bread into a flavor bomb. And this easy recipe is here to introduce you to the magic of this savory spice. So, ready to see what all the fuss is about?

Ingredients:

12 bread rolls
¼ cup dried garlic (granulated)
2 ½ tbsp dried onions
1 ½ tbsp sesame seeds
1 ½ tbsp poppy seeds
½ tbsp salt
2 tbsp olive oil
3 tbsp unsalted butter

Directions:

In a small bowl, combine two tablespoons of garlic, onion, sesame, and poppy seeds, and salt. Set aside.
In a small pan, add the olive oil, butter, and 2 tablespoons of garlic. Heat over medium-low heat until the butter has melted and the garlic is fragrant (2-3 minutes). Set aside.
Preheat the oven to 400^oF. Then, place the bread rolls onto a baking sheet and, once the temperature is OK, toast them for 5 minutes.
When the bread rolls are out of the oven, brush them with the garlic butter mixture, and sprinkle generously with the spice. Set aside to cool and serve with your favorite soup or main dish.

3. Honey-Garlic Chicken

Honey and garlic are a classic combo in Asian cuisine, and this dish proves that the two are a match made in heaven. You can skip the sriracha sauce for a milder version, but honestly, the dish tastes much better with a spicy kick to it.

Ingredients:

1 pound skinless, boneless chicken breasts
2 eggs, beaten
1 cup breadcrumbs
½ cup raw honey
2 tbsp dried garlic (sliced)
1 tbsp dried onions
3 tbsp soy sauce
½ tbsp hoisin sauce
2 tsp sriracha sauce (optional)
½ tbsp cornstarch
Salt & pepper, to taste

Directions:

Preheat the oven to 400^oF, line a baking dish with parchment paper and add the eggs and breadcrumbs to two separate bowls.
Season chicken with salt and pepper, dip into the egg mixture, transfer to the breadcrumb bowl, and toss around to coat.
Spread the breaded cutlets onto the baking sheet and bake for 20 minutes or until golden brown.
Meanwhile, make the garlic sauce. Add the honey, garlic, onion, soy, hoisin, and sriracha sauces to a saucepan and heat over medium heat. Once it starts to bubble, add the cornstarch and ½ cup water and simmer for 4-5 minutes or until the sauce thickens.
Stir in the chicken and toss to combine. For a full meal, serve with salad or a cup of basmati rice.

4. Cheesy Garlic Popcorn

Garlic, parmesan cheese, and herbs join forces in this easy-yet-indulgent recipe where popcorn serves as a canvas for your cravings. To accentuate garlic’s flavor even more, sprinkle a dash of sumac before serving.

Ingredients:

3 ½ tbsp olive oil
½ cup popcorn kernels
1 tsp dried garlic (granulated)
¾ cup parmesan cheese, grated
¾ tsp dried thyme
Salt, to taste

Directions:

In a large pot, heat 2 ½ tbsp of olive oil along with 2 popcorn kernels. Cover with a lid and wait for them to pop. Once they do, add the rest, cover again, shake the pot to distribute them, and cook until the popping slows down to one pop per 2-3 seconds. Set aside.
In a small saucepan, heat the remaining olive oil and garlic over medium heat and sauté for 3 minutes.
Stir in the thyme and remove the saucepan from heat. Pour the “garlicky sauce” into the pot with the popcorn and toss quickly to combine.
Add the parmesan cheese and season with salt, and toss to distribute evenly. Serve immediately.

5. Tomato & Garlic Naan Pizza

In case you missed it (ICYMI), naan flatbreads are the ultimate “pizza dough” subs, especially when you lack the time or energy to make your own. This easy recipe tops the flatbread with a garlic-tomato mixture and some veggies for texture. For a cheesy take (without the cheese), sprinkle the pie without a teaspoon of nutritional yeast. It’s as simple as that!

Ingredients:

2 naan flatbreads
3 tbsp tomato paste
1 tsp dried garlic (granulated)
2 tbsp dried bell peppers (mixed)
2 tbsp dried carrots
1 tsp nutritional yeast (optional)

Directions:

In a small bowl, add the bell pepper and carrot along with one cup of warm water and soak for 15 minutes. Squeeze away excess liquid and set aside.
Preheat the oven to 350^oF and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
In a cup, mix the tomato paste and garlic and, using a knife, spread the mixture all over the flatbreads.
Top with the veggies and sprinkle with nutritional yeast (if using).
Bake the mini pizzas for 15 minutes or until the naan has crisped up.

So, which of these garlic recipes have stolen your heart? Let us know in the comments down below!