Are you looking for the best garlic salt substitutes? You are at the right place. I once had to deal with a similar unfortunate situation when I was out of garlic salt whilst making garlic chicken and needed the help of few ingredients in place of garlic salt to save my recipe.
Any ideas as to what those ingredients were which helped me in my plight? Let me make it easy for you. Some of the best garlic salt substitutes are garlic powder, minced garlic and salt, granulated garlic, garlic juice, and salt and garlic puree.
Garlic salt is a mixture of ground garlic and sea salt. It can be used as a seasoning agent and in salad dressings. It is a versatile ingredient that can be used to flavor soups, stews, and other dishes. It is also great for seasoning stir-fries and dry rubs.
Being versatile comes with ups and downs. It might make it hard to find something that can closely match the flavor profile of the ingredient. But not to worry. I have detailed a list of the best garlic salt substitutes to prepare for you. But before that, let us explore garlic salt.
Quick Peek: Garlic Salt
The following scribbles tell you what garlic salt is, its flavor, texture, culinary uses, and health benefits.
What Is Garlic Salt?
Garlic salt is a type of seasoned salt that is a blend of dried and ground garlic and sea salt. Kosher salt can also be used instead of sea salt. Sometimes, anti-caking agents such as calcium silicate are also added. Garlic salt can also be prepared by mixing garlic powder with salt.
Describing Garlic Salt: Flavor and Texture
Garlic salt has a salty, garlicky flavor. It has a fine, coarse texture similar to table salt. Garlic powder must be ground to a fine, soft texture if it is used in the making. If granulated garlic is used, it has to be ground to a coarse texture. Depending on the ingredients used, garlic salt takes its texture.
Uses of Garlic Salt
Garlic salt is primarily and majorly used as a seasoning agent in stir-fries, soups, noodles, marinades, taco fillings, casseroles, and other dishes. It can be sprinkled on meat for an amazing flavor and aroma. Mixing garlic salt with herbs is a great way to season dry herbs. It is a perfect addition to tasty dips based on onions, spinach, bacon, or salmon.
Garlic Salt on The Health Radar | Looking Through The Wellness Telescope
Garlic is a herb that has impressive health benefits. Garlic salt is no exception. Garlic salt functions as a vasodilator, opening the blood vessels and thus improving the blood flow. It is great for curing diabetes since it increases the level of insulin. It brings down cholesterol levels and boosts heart health. It is also beneficial in helping with weight loss.
Why Should We Substitute Garlic Salt?
Garlic salt is a beneficial, healthy seasoning ingredient that is mostly available all time of the year. But there can be a time when you are out of garlic salt and realize it in the midst of an important recipe. That is when the best garlic substitutes come in handy.
The substitutes of garlic salt can be easily used to achieve a flavor close to that of garlic salt, thus saving your day (and your recipe, of course!) Most substitutes will have to be based on garlic for a similar flavor. That said, if you are allergic to garlic, I have other recommendations for you as the best garlic salt substitutes. Shall we talk about them right away?
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12 Best Garlic Salt Substitutes
Now that you know everything you need to know about garlic salt let us discuss the best substitutes for garlic salt.
1. Garlic Powder
Garlic powder is a seasoning spice made using dehydrated garlic. Garlic cloves are dried and pulverized (reduced to a fine powder). Garlic cloves are also known as ground garlic. Various brands offer garlic powder which differs in texture.
Garlic powder has an intense garlicky flavor, no doubt. When mixed with salt, garlic powder is the best substitute for garlic salt in any recipe. You might have to check the ingredients in garlic powder since it may have added salt. If that is the case, you will have to adjust the quantity of salt you use in recipes.
2. Minced Garlic and Salt
Minced garlic and salt is another best substitute for garlic salt due to the closeness in flavor. Garlic cloves are finely cut up or ground into pieces for use. These can be stored in a jar for later use.
For substituting garlic salt, use ½ teaspoon of minced garlic and 1/4th of salt to replace half a teaspoon of garlic salt. Using minced garlic guarantees you a fresh flavor of garlic. However, try not to add too much-minced garlic due to the spicy flavor it can give out. Using olive oil is recommended for preparing minced garlic and salt as a substitute for garlic salt.
3. Granulated Garlic
Heard of granulated garlic? It is simply garlic cloves that are dried and ground coarsely to a sandy texture. Garlic can be ground into granules using a spice binder. Granulated garlic is easily available in grocery stores.
Granulated garlic, in combination with salt, is a superb substitute for garlic salt due to the strong, sharp flavor of granulated garlic. Using this substitute gives you many advantages since it prevents any clumps can be formed. Also, its rough texture makes it a good garlic salt substitute in rubs. It is also suitable for use in soups and stews.
4. Garlic Juice and Salt
Garlic juice is obtained when you puree the garlic and strain the juice out of it. It can also be made by pressing the liquid from fresh garlic cloves. It is a flavorful ingredient and traditional medicine as well. It has anti-inflammatory, anti-carcinogenic, antibacterial, anti-fungal, and antioxidant properties. It is also a rich source of many vital vitamins and minerals.
Due to its mild garlicky flavor, garlic juice with salt added to it acts as a considerable garlic salt substitute. The fresh flavor of garlic can be obtained in a mild form using garlic juice, while salt ensures the savory flavor.
5. Garlic Puree
Garlic puree is as easy as it sounds – a puree of garlic cloves! Garlic cloves can be soaked in water for a smooth texture. They can be mixed with olive oil and blended in a food processor to obtain a smooth garlic puree. Garlic puree can be used as a substitute for garlic salt due to garlic’s intense flavor and essence. This is especially suitable for replacing garlic salt in making sauces and creams for pasta recipes and sandwiches.
6. Garlic Flakes
Garlic flakes are dehydrated or dried garlic pieces. These are generally used as a condiment for flavoring. Garlic cloves are stripped off their layers and minced. The best thing about garlic flakes is that you don’t have to bother with mincing or chopping garlic cloves. These are then dehydrated to discard the liquid. After they are dried, these are spun into a mesh to get the size of flakes.
Garlic flakes are considerable substitutes for garlic salt since they do not have garlic’s rich, spicy flavor. For best results, garlic flakes can be mixed with onion powder for a close flavor to garlic salt.
7. Garlic and Salt Paste
Garlic cloves can be blended into a fine paste and mixed with salt and work as a garlic salt substitute. Chopped garlic cloves with added salt can be blended using a food processor. Garlic and salt paste differ from garlic salt with respect to texture. Garlic salt has a fine, coarse texture, while garlic and salt paste has the characteristic paste consistency. This alternative has a bold flavor, so you might have to add small quantities.
8. Garlic Oil
Garlic oil is a volatile oil obtained from garlic. Garlic cloves are boiled over a low flame in oil, preferably olive oil, for 20 minutes. After cooling them, the cloves are strained, and the oil is extracted for use.
Garlic oil is a mild garlic salt substitute for garlic salt that can be considered if you are done with the sharp, intense garlicky flavor. It can offer you a gentle garlic flavor with a promising flavor profile. It can be used in grilled meat, veggies, salads, and roasts.
9. Onion Powder
Finally, a substitute that is devoid of garlic – onion powder! Onion powder is a blend of dried onion crushed into a fine powder. It is a seasoning ingredient and is one of the ingredients in beau monde seasoning. Toasted onions can also be used to prepare onion powder.
Onion powder has the flavor of onions, but it is not as strong as raw onions. Onion powder can be a worthy substitute for garlic salt since most recipes have onions and garlic used in tandem. Onion powder is a good replacement for garlic salt in sauces, stews, and dips.
10. Mustard Powder
As you can easily guess, the mustard powder is the ground version of flavorful, aromatic mustard seeds. It is also known as ground mustard, powdered mustard, or mustard flour. It is a very popular seasoning ingredient used in Indian cuisine.
Mustard powder has a mild, tangy, savory flavor and a smooth texture. Mustard powder can be a garlic salt substitute since it has a considerable spicy, intense flavor. It is also a healthy alternative to garlic salt due to the presence of antioxidants and several other vital nutrients.
11. Asafoetida Powder
Asafoetida powder is the powdered version of latex or gum obtained from ferula plants. The dried sap is ground to a coarse powder, yellow in color, and is used for culinary purposes. Asafoetida is also known as devil’s dung.
Asafoetida powder has a strong, pungent, bitter flavor when raw. When used in cooking, the pungent, bitter flavor changes into a garlicky flavor, which is why asafoetida powder can work as a garlic salt substitute. This ingredient is a common substitute for both onions and garlic. But be very careful with the quantity you use lest you want a bitter-flavored recipe!
12. Spice Mixes
Spice mixes are spices or herbs mixed to form amazing, flavorsome seasoning or flavoring agents. Spice mixes can rescue you from the boredom of enjoying the flavors of just garlic and salt and thus are considered substitutes for garlic salt.
There are many spice mixes commercially available for you to try. You can also create your spice mix at home. Using spice mixes can give you distinctive flavors and aroma and instantly perk up your recipes with yumminess!
Short Recap Of Best Garlic Salt Substitutes
That must have been an exhaustive read on the best garlic salt substitutes, right? Let me make it easy for you to remember the details with the help of some points.
Best Garlic Salt Substitutes In Terms of Flavor–
- Garlic powder
- Minced garlic and salt
- Granulated garlic
Best Garlic Salt Substitutes In Terms of Texture–
- Garlic powder
- Minced garlic and salt.
- Garlic juice and salt
Best Garlic Salt Substitutes That Are Not Based On Garlic–
- Onion powder
- Mustard powder
- Asafoetida powder
- Spice mixes
Final Musings
The article on the best garlic salt substitutes must have been enlightening for you. You can try these substitutes in recipes with no hesitation. For a garlicky flavor, try the substitutes based on garlic. If you want a flavor close to garlic, you can try the substitutes devoid of garlic. Let me know about your experimentation, and see you soon with another article!
Garlic Salt Substitutes
Ingredients
- Garlic Powder
- Minced Garlic and Salt
- Granulated Garlic
- Garlic Juice and Salt
- Garlic Puree
- Garlic Flakes
- Garlic and Salt Paste
- Garlic Oil
- Onion Powder
- Mustard Powder
- Asafoetida Powder
- Spice Mixes
Instructions
- Go through the substitutes and see which one seems fit for the recipe.
- Collect your ingredients and use your preferred substitute.
- Use the substitute in the required amount and proceed to make the dish according to the recipe.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much garlic powder equals a teaspoon of garlic salt?
¼th salt and ¾th garlic powder equal a teaspoon of garlic salt.
Is garlic salt healthier than salt?
Garlic salt can be considered to have more nutritional value than salt. However, any type of salt is rich in sodium which is detrimental.
Can I use garlic powder instead of garlic salt?
Garlic powder can be used instead of garlic salt with the addition of salt.
Is garlic salt better than garlic powder?
Garlic powder is a much better healthy option than garlic salt due to the absence of sodium.
What are the herbs used in garlic salt?
Salt, pepper, garlic powder, rosemary, onion powder and paprika are used in garlic salt.
How is garlic salt made?
Garlic salt is made by combining ground garlic with sea salt or kosher salt.
