Black garlic is considered a luxury ingredient as it is set apart from standard aromatics by its pure black appearance and vast health benefits.
Rarely will you find black garlic in British recipes, but it is a much-loved treat in Korean and other Asian cuisines. In Western restaurants, black garlic is mostly used to add an artistic spin to basic meals such as chicken dishes or cheese boards.
Its rarity and luxury feel mean that black garlic does not come cheap in the UK. But that doesn’t mean you have to miss out on a rich dining experience!
Our 3 Substitutes for Black Garlic
It is not just the dark black aesthetic of black garlic that makes it such a desirable ingredient but also its lack of aroma.
Some aromatic ingredients can be overwhelming when used in excess, whereas black garlic doesn’t have much of a smell even when raw. Neither is it sticky to handle, so you won’t have to worry about getting the smell of garlic everywhere.
Aside from the strong garlicky taste, black garlic has a pleasant sweetness to it.
Here are our top 3 substitutes for black garlic:
1) White Garlic
The easiest, most cost-effective way to replace black garlic in a dish is simply by using traditional, normal white garlic.
It is not as rich an ingredient, nor will it give your plate that artistic finish. But white garlic will have your dish tasting and smelling delicious.
White garlic has a lot more natural moisture and essence than black garlic, which means it has a much stronger garlicky flavour. To reap the same kind of benefits as black garlic, use less white garlic in your dish to reduce the pungency.
Balance the Garlic’s Aroma
Even if you use less white garlic in a black garlic dish, your breath will still have a garlic aroma after eating. The acidity of lemon can help neutralize this smell, so drink some water with some lemon after dinner to keep your breath smelling fresh.
2) Garlic Oil
In many recipes, black garlic replaces the digestive issues that white garlic can sometimes cause. Garlic oil also works in similar ways.
Though garlic is garlic oil’s prominent flavour, distilled garlic cloves have been mixed with other natural oils to create a cooking oil that is gentle on the stomach but still just as tasty.
Garlic oil will not provide the same texture as black garlic because it is a liquid, but the flavour more than makes up for this loss.
Add Sweetener
If you do not want to cut out the sweetness of black garlic from your dish, add a little honey to your garlic oil before you use it in your dish. This will recreate a similar sweetness to black garlic.
3) Garlic Paste
One of the most concentrated garlic products you could buy for an affordable price is garlic paste. It is typically kept in the cool section of the supermarket, so it can be hard to find but is well worth the hunt.
Garlic paste is made by crushing up copious amounts of garlic and blending them together until they form a thick paste. Sometimes garlic paste manufacturers will add salt, pepper or other herbs to their garlic mix. But for the best black garlic replacement, try and use just plain garlic paste.
Due to how concentrated garlic paste is, you will not need to use a lot when substituting it for black garlic. It is already much more robust than black garlic, and using too much could completely ruin the balance of your dish.
Making Your Own Garlic Paste
You can make your own garlic paste at home by simply blending together a heap load of white garlic cloves until they become a paste. To replicate black garlic better, add a little honey or sugar to the paste and season with salt.
Other Substitutes for Black Garlic
If you do not have any fresh produce to hand or want to do more to elevate your dish in a similar way to black garlic without breaking the bank, here are a few affordable powders you can use instead:
- Garlic Salt – Because of the added salt, you should only use a sprinkle of garlic salt when replacing black garlic. The combination of ground fresh garlic and salt helps to make your dish taste more complex, but in a slightly different way than black garlic foes.
- Garlic Powder – If worst comes to worst, you can always use garlic powder. It is a concentrated version of white garlic so use sparingly for that delicate garlic taste in your dish.
Summary
Black garlic is a rare luxury that most people will never get to experience, especially with how expensive it is to buy in the UK. The soft, slightly sweet garlic is great for preventing bad garlic breath.
But using any other garlic product in tight moderation can provide a similar garlic experience to your dish without becoming overwhelming.