Garlic Confit

I am a huge fan of fresh, powdered, or preserved garlic and always look for ways to use it in cooking. If this sounds like you, this garlic confit recipe is for you. 

Garlic confit is a classic French garlic preservative that is delicious in various savory dishes. Basically, anytime you need oil, substitute it with garlic confit to take your dish to the next level.

In this article, we’ll look at what garlic confit is, how to use it, and include a recipe from the book, The Sea Cook. Let’s jump in!

What Is Garlic Confit?

Confit, in French, means preservative, and garlic confit is heads of garlic preserved in olive oil. Making it is straightforward, but the flavor will blow your mind, and the longer it sets, the more concentrated it becomes.

Garlic confit is simply garlic cloves slowly cooked in olive oil. The slow simmering mellows the garlic flavor while the oil adds richness.

Another name for garlic confit is garlic infused oil. Although the oil gives richness to the garlic, the garlic mutually benefits the olive oil by infusing it with depth and flavor. 

The garlic and the oil can be used together, but they can also be used separately, which is one of the unique things about this recipe. The oil is great over salads and the garlic makes a great additive to proteins and vegetables.

How To Make Garlic Confit?

The beauty of garlic confit (besides the incredible flavor) is its simplicity. All you need is three heads of garlic and enough olive oil to cover them in a small pot.

The trick to making garlic confit is to cook it low and slow in a small pot and only cook the garlic until it is soft. If you overcook the garlic, it can add a bitter flavor to the confit.

To make garlic confit, you will need the following:

• Three heads of garlic, peeled
• Olive oil ( approx. 1 cup, just enough to cover the garlic)
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  Garlic Confit

  January 29, 2023

  Servings: n/a

  Prep: 5 min

  Cook: 25 min

  Total: 30 min

  Difficulty: Easy

  Print This

  Garlic confit is a garlic infused oil that adds great flavor and depth anytime oil is needed.

  By: jazzpantry

  

  Ingredients

  • 3 heads of garlic, peeled
  • Approximately 1 C olive oil (enough to submerge the garlic)

  Directions

  • Step 1 Peel the garlic and place in a small saucepot.
  • Step 2 Cover the garlic with olive oil
  • Step 3 Simmer at the lowest setting for 25-30 minutes or until the garlic has a uniform golden color.
  • Step 4 once done, remove the confit and store in a glass container with a tight-fitting lid.
  ,

How To Store Garlic Confit

It is recommended that garlic confit be stored in the refrigerator in an airtight container for food safety reasons. It is normal for the oil to harden, but it is easily reconstituted by warming it in the microwave or on the stovetop.

How Long Does Garlic Confit Last?

Garlic confit lasts up to one month in the refrigerator and several months in the freezer. A great way to freeze garlic-infused oil is to add it to ice cube trays. Since only a little confit is needed, the ice cube trays ensure you get the proper amount without thawing out the rest of the oil.

How To Use Garlic Confit 

I use garlic confit on everything from eggs to proteins like chicken and pork, and to season my cast iron pans. Basically, whenever I normally use olive oil, I substitute it with garlic confit.

The other night, we made a Pittsburgh steak salad (recipe coming soon) with pan-seared steak. Instead of searing the steak in butter, we seared it in garlic confit, which took the flavor to another level. 

You can also remove a head or two of the garlic from the olive oil, mash it to release the concentrated flavor, and add this to the top of the chicken while roasting for incredible depth and flavor.

The roasted garlic can also be spread as easily as butter over bread, potatoes, or anything requiring a serious flavor infusion.

Other uses for garlic confit are: 

• Salad dressing
• Drizzle for vegetables
• Bread dip (use hard bread like Italian or French)
• Cooking eggs (you’re welcome)

Jp’s Grilled Lobster Tail is a great way to use garlic confit.

Conclusion

This is a simple recipe to make and packed full of flavor, which is why we use it at The Jazz Pantry. It only takes half an hour to make, and the uses are virtually endless.

Take some time and make your confit and let us know what you prefer it own. Savory recipe creation becomes much easier when you have a special ingredient like garlic confit in your pantry.