What to do if you've added too much garlic to a dish
In the Kitchen
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Garlic is a staple ingredient in many cuisines around the world and a staple in my kitchen. I can’t think of a time when I didn’t have fresh, frozen, or garlic powder on hand.
Garlic adds a savory, pungent flavor that can elevate any dish. However, it's easy to add too much garlic, especially if you're using fresh garlic. If you've added too much garlic to your dish, don't worry! There are a few things you can do to save it.
What to Do
Here are a few tips on how to fix a dish with too much garlic:
Add more ingredients. One of the easiest ways to dilute the garlic flavor is to add more ingredients to your dish. This could include things like broth, water, or even more of the main ingredient. For example, if you've added too much garlic to a tomato sauce, you could add more tomatoes or tomato paste.
Add acidity. Acidity can help to cut through the garlic flavor. You could add a squeeze of lemon or lime juice, a splash of vinegar, or a spoonful of yogurt or sour cream.
Add sweetness. Sweetness can also help to balance out the garlic flavor. You could add a pinch of sugar, a spoonful of honey, or a drizzle of fruit juice. Be careful not to add too much because you may then have to correct for sweetness. 🤦♀️
Add cream or milk. Cream or milk can help to mellow out the garlic flavor. This is a good option for dishes like soups and stews.
Cook it off. If you've added too much garlic to a dish that is still cooking, you can try cooking it off for a few minutes. This will help to mellow out the garlic flavor. This may not be an option for quick cooking dishes like stir-fries, vegetables, etc. I would probably use the citrus method for those types of dishes.
Other Tips
Here are a few other tips to keep in mind:
Taste your dish as you go. It's always a good idea to taste your dish as you're cooking it. This will help you avoid adding too much garlic.
Start with less garlic. If you're not sure how much garlic to add, it's always better to start with less and add more later if needed. Even if the recipe calls for 40 cloves of garlic, perhaps start with 30 and then increase if you want to enhance the garlic flavor. Remember that garlic can vary in its intensity, so what worked today may not work with next week’s garlic because it may be older, fresher, or somewhere in between.
Use a garlic press. A garlic press can help you to mince garlic more evenly, which can help you to prevent adding too much. I love my garlic press. By mincing the garlic, you get a stronger flavor, but it is dispersed better.
Choose how you chop your garlic. As I mentioned, when you use a garlic press, you are mincing the garlic, getting the most flavor out of it. If you want less garlic flavor, consider slicing or even just smashing the garlic and removing it after it cooks for a bit.
Refrigerate and wait. Depending on your dish, you could refrigerate the dish for 24-48 hours and then reheat it. This allows the garlic to mellow over time. Usually, when you reheat it, the garlic is at the perfect level.
If you've added too much garlic to your dish, don't worry! There are a few things you can do to save it. By following these tips, you can still enjoy your dish, even if it has a little too much garlic.
Jen Vondenbrink is a cooking, food, and lifestyle blogger at Appetite for Life since 2020. Jen Vondenbrink has over 35 years of professional cooking experience apprenticing with local pastry and artisan bread makers, working for culinary innovator J. Bildner & Sons in Boston, as well as Starbucks Coffee Company in Seattle, Washington. Jen Vondenbrink has published cookbooks such as Thanksgiving Recipes From Home, Fun Summer Recipes, and the Cozy Soup Cookbook. Jen Vondenbrink also hosts the Appetite for Life Cooking Club, where members get insights to enhance their cooking. Jen Vondenbrink offers cooking classes and cooking coaching, working one-on-one with people to strengthen their cooking knowledge and skills.
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