Garlic is My Magical Ingredient for Elevating Simple Recipes

I use garlic liberally during spring and summer – it’s a fundamental ingredient in three of my default recipes.

Garlic Croutons Lift a Seasonal Salad to Another Level ¦ Photo by Jack McNulty

In last week’s article, I discussed my admiration for garlic and how it can enhance basic recipes during the peak season of spring and summer when its flavor is at its best. But garlic is also temperamental – it can overpower a dish and leave...well...a bad taste in the mouth if it is misused.

With this in mind, I think mastering garlic’s personality seems important. It’s a versatile ingredient that is a staple in countless recipes and can add a distinct depth of flavor. This should not be overlooked...but it should be understood that the potential of this humble ingredient can elevate a dish to new heights...and that’s exactly what I want to focus on this week.

Garlic is a critical element for most of my ‘default’ recipes. I add it to boost the flavor of simple croutons I often make and serve with salads, soups, and, yes – as a little snack, I sneak in occasionally.

I never hesitate to add garlic to roasted seasonal vegetables – typically, a grand mixture of whatever I can find at the farmer’s market. In fact, I enjoy a round of roasted vegetables about once every week, and garlic always finds a way to elevate the vegetables as they roast in the oven.

Pasta is my comfort food...and my favorite default.  Whenever I sense that I need a boost to my mental well-being, I make a big plate of spaghetti with garlic and oil...sometimes even with a handful of chopped stale bread that I toast with the oil and garlic to create a wonderful texture...and I never forget to add some chili peppers and a few capers that help me sit back and smile contentedly.

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Every cook has a few recipe ideas that live in their head. These are simple preparations that have been made over and over and require no recipe. They taste good, and they blanket the soul in comfort. They are the recipes that define a person as a cook. They are default recipes.

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Cooking with garlic is truly an art. Depending on your approach, you can create a range of background or main attraction flavors that are sweet, mild, assertive, or sharp. By roasting whole garlic cloves or boiling them to make a smooth purée, you can unlock the rich sweetness of this essential ingredient. And when you sauté or roast sliced, chopped, or grated garlic in oil, you can bring out an assertive sharpness that is perfectly balanced with sweet, salty, and acidic flavors. It's no wonder garlic is a go-to ingredient for cooks who want to take their dishes to the next level.

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