If you have to name a few basic ingredients to whip up an Indian curry, garlic will surely make it to the list. It holds an irreplaceable position in almost every kitchen. The pungent taste and strong aroma of the herb offers an instant kick of flavours to any regular dish. In fact, it is one of the most commonly used spices in global cuisine. Besides being a versatile food ingredient, garlic is a powerhouse of several healthy nutrients. It is a super-food and has been a part of traditional medicine for centuries.
Health Benefits Of Garlic:
As per the book 'Healing Foods' by DK Publishers, garlic helps "aiding the circulatory and digestive systems, boosting the immune system, lowering blood pressure, and fighting heart disease." It is also enriched with vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, antiviral and antibacterial properties. Moreover, garlic has low calorie content and may help in weight loss. Hence, experts around the world often recommend inclusion of garlic in our daily diet.
How To Add More Garlic To Your Diet?
One of the simplest ways of adding garlic in food is in the form of masala. But if you look around, you will find several unique techniques that will not only include the benefits of garlic in your meal plan, but also make the dishes flavoursome and appetising.
Here're 5 fun ideas of adding garlic to your diet (with recipes):
1. Salad dressing
All you need to do is, pound some garlic cloves, mix it with olive oil, chilli flakes and dried herbs and drizzle on your bowl of salad. This will add a rich flavour to your regular salad bowl.
2. Adding to soup
You may top a humble bowl of soup with some burnt garlics to make it yet more luscious. For preparing burnt garlic, you have to heat a pan with some oil and fry a handful of chopped garlic (on a low flame) till it turns golden brown in colour.
3. Including in roti or paratha
You can add a handful of garlic to the roti or paratha dough to make them flavourful. Click here for the recipe of garlic naan.
4. Adding to dips
We all love to pair our appetisers with yummy dips. Here's a recipe of garlic dip that will make your fries and crisps taste better. Click here for the recipe. You may also whip up garlic butter by adding some chopped garlic, black pepper and dried herbs to a regular slab of butter.
5. Pickling garlic
One of the most popular ways to include the herb to your diet, garlic pickle is all things good and spicy. Pair it with your meal and make it taste better in a jiffy. Click here for a garlic-based pickle recipe.
Now on, enjoy a garlic-y goodness with every meal, without much struggle. Have a nice day!