Wondering how to make garlic salt or what to use when you run out of garlic salt? What is the suitable Garlic salt Substitute? Here I list all the available garlic salt alternatives.
Garlic salt is simply a mixture of garlic powder and salt, formed into a coarse grain. It is popular in dishes such as spaghetti sauce and baked potatoes. Garlic salt is much stronger than fresh garlic or garlic powder and is a great way to give a dish an extra punch if you’re short on time.
Garlic salt is a basic recipe that cooks use when they want to add garlic flavor to food. There are many variations of this recipe, but the typical combination is 1 tsp of salt and 1 1/2 tsp of garlic powder for every 1 TBSP you make.
Getting a perfect ingredient to substitute garlic salt can be challenging that’s why I have decided to provide you with the best garlic salt substitutes that you can use in recipes when you don’t have garlic salt.
The perfect garlic salt substitute is homemade garlic salt but you can also try other alternatives such as granulated garlic, garlic powder, garlic oil, Garlic and salt paste, garlic juice and salt, minced garlic, garlic flakes, mustard powder, spice mixes, and onion powder.
11 Best Garlic Salt Substitutes
1. Homemade Garlic Salt
Our first choice for the best garlic salt substitute is homemade garlic salt which has a very similar taste to that of garlic salt thus making it a perfect choice.
All you need is garlic and salt to make your homemade garlic salt thus making it a readily available substitute.
Making your garlic salt at home gives you the chance to regulate the ingredients used and helps avoid unnecessary processing that would affect the beneficial properties of your garlic salt.
Another advantage of making your garlic salt from scratch is that it allows you to add other spices of your choice to your mixture.
How To Make Garlic Salt At Home
Ingredients
- 1 teaspoon of garlic powder or granulated garlic
- 1 tablespoon of kosher salt
- 1/4 teaspoon granulated onion (optional)
- Any spices or herbs of your choice (optional)
Put all your ingredients in a bowl and mix them well until you get a consistent mixture. After that, transfer the mixture into an airtight container or shaker and store it for up to 6 months.
2. Garlic And Salt Paste
This makes a great garlic salt alternative which is in form of a paste thus having a more pungent and bolder flavor of garlic than the powdered version. You should therefore add just a bit at a time for better results.
You can buy this paste from the grocery store or simply make your own at home. The process is super easy.
To make homemade garlic and salt paste, chop several garlic cloves as per your need then season it with salt and mash using a fork or any other utensil.
For a smooth paste, you can use a blender or a food processor to get rid of any garlic chunks in your paste.
NOTE: Using a fork to mash garlic cloves preserves all the natural garlic juices which may disappear in a food processor.
3. Granulated Garlic
Granulated garlic is similar to garlic powder but it has a rougher and chunkier texture. It makes a perfect garlic salt alternative due to its garlic-like taste although it has a stronger and sharper flavor.
Its stronger, sharper flavor and flaky texture make it ideal to be used on top of pastry, meat, fish, or salad dressings.
Unlike garlic powder, granulated garlic does not form clumps easily thus making it ideal when making a homemade version without any anti-clumping ingredients.
Another advantage is that it mixes well with other spices due to its rough texture thus making it ideal for spice rubs. On the other hand, it does not disappear in liquids thus making it perfect for your soups and sauces.
To make granulated garlic at home, use the same procedure used to make garlic powder but stop the blending process while the garlic is still chunky.
4. Garlic Powder
Another possible garlic salt substitute is garlic powder. Garlic powder has a similar flavor to that of garlic salt thus using it to replace garlic salt in meals will not be a miss.
For better results, add some table salt or kosher salt to your garlic powder when using it to substitute garlic salt in recipes.
When using it in meals, first add salt and then add a little bit of garlic powder at a time to prevent it from overpowering your dish.
Garlic powder can be used in any savory dish and also in making garlic bread, dry rubs, all kinds of meats, vegetables, stews, soups, sauces, dips, and many more.
5. Garlic Oil
Garlic oil makes a perfect garlic salt substitute for people who hate the sharpness and richness of full garlic flavor yet still want to enjoy a hint of garlic flavor.
You can get garlic oil from your local grocery store or supermarket but you can also make your own at home.
How To Make Garlic Oil At Home
Ingredients
- 1 head garlic
- 1 cup of oil as per your choice (preferably olive oil)
- Any spices of your own
Peel your garlic cloves and add them to a pot and add your olive oil. Cook over medium heat and stir occasionally to prevent the cloves from burning.
Cook for 3 minutes then turn down the heat and let it cool down for about 45 minutes. Garlic oil is ideal for cooking several dishes, drizzling it over cheese plates, salads, roasts, and grilled meat and veggies.
6. Garlic Juice And Salt
This is a great garlic salt alternative that you can use in recipes calling for garlic salt whenever you lack it.
Garlic juice is extracted from fresh garlic cloves and is found both as an extract and juice. To get garlic juice, puree fresh garlic cloves in a food processor then strain the mixture and store the juice.
The fact that garlic juice does not contain actual garlic parts makes it a much “softer” substitute as compared to other garlic products.
For substitution, mix your garlic juice and salt and use it in your salad dressing including soups, sauces, and dips. In this case, the juice will give your dish a mild touch of garlic while the salt will add a savory note.
7. Minced Garlic
Minced garlic can be used to replace garlic salt in recipes although it has a sharp garlic aroma and thus should be used sparingly.
The common way of preparing minced garlic is by chopping up some fresh garlic cloves into smaller pieces and then adding them to your food. As simple as that.
Another way of making minced garlic is by using a food processor. Add 3 cups of freshly peeled garlic cloves into your food processor and then add 1/2 cup of oil and salt and blend until it is minced.
Alternatively, you can buy jarred minced garlic at your nearby grocery store or supermarket. However, you should bear in mind that store-bought mixtures contain preservatives and other artificial ingredients.
8. Garlic Flakes And Salt
Garlic flakes are larger dried pieces of garlic and they have a fuller and richer garlic taste as compared to garlic powder and granulated garlic thus making them a perfect substitute for garlic salt in recipes.
To substitute, use 1/2 teaspoon of garlic flakes and 3/4 teaspoon of salt for every 1 teaspoon of garlic salt.
9. Mustard Powder
The fact that this seasoning is a bit spicy, slightly pungent, and mild earthly makes it ideal for use in place of garlic salt in meals.
This is a perfect alternative for people intending to reduce their sodium consumption and it’s ideal for people with high blood pressure, diabetes, heart disease, or even kidney disease.
10. Onion Powder
This powder is extracted from dried onions and it’s a great choice for people suffering from high blood pressure, diabetes, or kidney disease.
It can replace garlic salt in cooking soups, sauces, stews, dips, baking bread, pretzels, and bagels. Substitute it in equal measures as garlic salt.
NOTE: Some onion powder seasonings contain salt therefore you should make sure that the amount of salt is not too high.
11. Spice Mixes
Last and not least, you can use any spice mixes you may have in your kitchen to substitute garlic salt in your recipe if you want a more exciting substitute.
You can buy a spice mix from your local grocery store or simply make your mix at home.
FAQ’S
How Much Garlic Salt Is Equivalent To 1 Clove?
One garlic clove equals about 1/2 teaspoon of garlic salt. This is because after mixing garlic salt will contain a more salty and concentrated taste than regular garlic.
What Is The Difference Between Garlic Salt And Regular Salt?
Regular salt is rich in sodium whereas garlic salt contains less sodium. Therefore, if you want a normal diet then regular salt will do you good while on the hand if you want to reduce your salt intake garlic salt will be a great choice.
Conclusion
Choosing the perfect substitute for garlic salt in your recipe will highly depend on how you want your results to be. Whether you want a full garlic taste or a subtle taste, there is a substitute for you.
The above garlic salt substitutes will work differently in meals therefore it’s up to you to choose the one that favors your recipe.
All the above alternatives will give you the results you are looking for in your meals so feel free to try them. All the best!
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