Attention Garlic Lovers!
Garlic is not only super tasty... but the health benefits are out of this world! Sauteed, fried, simmered in sauces, stir-fried, raw... you name it - this little pearl of goodness is one powerfully tasty bite!
But, what's one of the biggest drawbacks of cooking with garlic?
Peeling them!
Those paper thin wrappings clinging to each little bulb makes for a time-consuming removal process. I've had the garlic presses that mince and unwrap that cloves in one step! They're great!! But what if I don't want minced garlic? What if I'm making my 40 cloves of garlic chicken? (mmmmmm it is SO good!) Or what if I'm making a dish that requires sliced garlic, simmering up nice and thin in a broth? I've also used the little rubber mats where you can roll the paper off. They're also great! BUT if you want to peel an ENTIRE BULB (two or three, even) all at once...
I'VE GOT THE TRICK FOR YOU!
First take a nice tight bulb, and smash it into separate cloves with the heel of your hand. (if you do this at an angle, they break apart really nicely and easily!)
Next - you're going to put all the cloves right into a container with a lid. I happened to have a nice-sized Tupperware, but I used to have a plastic bread container that worked perfectly. (lost it in the move, ugh!) It's ideal that you have a lot of air for the cloves to move around and bounce off of one another. Then.... SHAKE! It will be loud - so be prepared! Shake for about one minute. (it's a great arm workout too! hehehe)
Take a peek - and you'll be so surprised! They're PEELED! In just about one minute's time - you have peeled garlic cloves and not an OUNCE of hard labor! hehehe Now, you might get the occasional stubborn clove. You can either shake some more - or just peel it by hand. Today, I was in a hurry to get pictures for you, so I just peeled the stubborn ones. (and now my fingers DO smell like garlic - but don't worry, I have a tip for you tomorrow!!!)
Nope - you don't have to put your hands in that mess! Just run the water over the cloves - and the papers float to the top like magic! I skim them off and put them into the sink to collect..... just like this!
Look at that! All those cloves - ready to put into your favorite dish! (My personal favorite is that 40 cloves of garlic chicken dish.... I'm definitely gonna have to do that soon! Each clove turns out soft and buttery and delish!) As far as your kissing breath.... AFTER eating 40 cloves of garlic? hmmmmm sorry! You can TRY parsley... but 40 cloves might mean no kissing for at least one night! :)
