Comments on: How to use garlic

By: Nour

Nour — Fri, 21 May 2010 16:04:09 +0000

I have had the same experience! I always wanted to help my mom cook, and that was the job I always got–pounding the garlic in the wood mortar! And now, that’s really the only way I use garlic!

By: Brian Reyes

Brian Reyes — Wed, 05 May 2010 21:12:58 +0000

I put garlic in everything, more often than not sliced. But I do like to mash it and mix it with olive oil and lime for a salad dressing similar to the one in your post. Looking through this blog, there are so many similarities to the way we cook here in Gibraltar. This place drew migrants from all around the Mediterranean, so we mix everything from Italian to Moroccan influences. I love your site, and will be back.
Greetings from Gibraltar
Brian

By: Easy Original Hummus : Practical Nutrition

Easy Original Hummus : Practical Nutrition — Sat, 03 Apr 2010 18:56:56 +0000

[...] 2 fresh garlic cloves, minced with mortar and pestle [...]

By: Chris

Chris — Sun, 07 Mar 2010 21:50:43 +0000

We absolutely do it this way — Lisa’s dad (from Beirut) showed her that method.

By: dana

dana — Sun, 07 Mar 2010 00:16:24 +0000

Have to admit, I only pull the pestle and mortar when I have time or when it is absolutely necessary. often than not, when I need a garlic paste I just grate the garlic with a very fine hand grater. I think it produces a very close result, but Shhh, dont tell my Mom

By: Nour El-Zibdeh

Nour El-Zibdeh — Sat, 06 Mar 2010 03:57:13 +0000

This is a great post… I use a mortar and pestle a lot and prefer the wooden ones…but I also chop sometimes if I don’t want to get another kitchen tool dirty. One the comments here makes me want to buy another one for nuts..
And I can totally see moms saying “more!” … you created a comfy image in my mind… moms! Thanks

By: northshorewoman

northshorewoman — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 14:43:50 +0000

I guess I should’ve said “Me being a Finnish Canadian…” because garlic is not Finnish Canadian!

When I made Lebanese dishes for my dad and mom I always told them “No, there is no garlic in the dish”. What’s a white lie every now and then?

By: northshorewoman

northshorewoman — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 14:41:56 +0000

I use this method. I have a few different wooden mortar and pestles. One I use only for garlic and it is many years old, so it has seasoned if you know what I mean. Another one, that has taller wooden sides, I use only for nuts or cardamon or other small seeds that I don’t want to ruin into a mulch with a processor.

Of course, I learned this method from my husband. As a Finnish Canadian garlic had never even entered my home.

In a pinch I use a garlic press but as you stated something like this is a shortcut that doesn’t cut it!

By: Mathai

Mathai — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 12:53:05 +0000

We use a mortar in our kitchen too. For our style of cooking usually some dried red chillies and ginger is added along with the garlic and together mashed as a paste

By: Ninette

Ninette — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 00:09:21 +0000

A nice post! I love the texture of mashed garlic.