How To Make Garlic Oil At Home: Recipe And Uses

Making garlic oil at home allows us to have a versatile product on hand, ideal for seasoning dishes and improving health. Although not as popular as other oils, this preparation concentrates nutrients and properties that can contribute to our well-being. Haven’t you tried it yet?

What is garlic oil?

Garlic oil is a natural product that we can make at home from garlic bulbs and healthy oils such as olive oil. Thanks to its particular flavor, it is a product that can be used later to season meat, salads, stews and many other recipes.

Likewise, due to its nutritional quality and its properties, we can also use it as a complementary medicine to improve our health. Although it does not have “miracle” or similar effects, its moderate consumption can contribute to the prevention and treatment of some diseases.

Nutritional properties of garlic

As a food, garlic is valued for its interesting nutritional quality. According to information from the food database, published by the US Department of Agriculture, garlic contains:

• Fiber
• Selenium
• Vitamin C
• Manganese
• Vitamin B6
• In smaller amounts: calcium, copper, potassium, phosphorus, iron and vitamin B1

On the other hand, as an article published in the Avicenna Journal of Phytomedicine shows , garlic has other healthy compounds, such as allicin, which has immunomodulatory, antimicrobial, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects.

How to make garlic oil?

As we anticipated, to make garlic oil we only need fresh garlic and olive oil, preferably extra virgin. Also, for best results, we also suggest using some freshly squeezed lemon juice.

Ingredients

• 6 complete heads of garlic
• 2 cups of extra virgin olive oil (500 ml)
• ½ glass of lemon juice (100 ml)

Method of preparation

• First, wash the garlic thoroughly with warm water. Let it rest for about 20 minutes, without stirring.
• After this time, start removing the skin from each bulb until everything is uncovered. Place them on a small tray and preheat the oven to 180 ºC.
• Cook the garlic for 15 minutes and let it cool a little.
• Pour the contents of the cup of lemon juice into a container and then the garlic. Lemon will help to neutralize the strong odor somewhat.

• Then also put the extra virgin olive oil in the container and mix it with the garlic.
• Put it back in the oven, at the same temperature,  for 5 minutes.
• Remove, let cool and strain. To finish, re-insert the garlic into the glass container.

Uses of Garlic Oil

The product obtained by combining garlic with olive oil can be used to season recipes. However, in addition, we can use it as an ally in health promotion. Of course, it is not a first-line treatment for illnesses nor is it a curative product.

Simply, when included as part of the regular diet, it is beneficial. For example, a review published in Nutrition Research Reviews suggests that garlic powder, aged garlic and garlic oil have antiplatelet and anticoagulant effects. Therefore, they can contribute to better blood circulation and good cardiovascular health.

Meanwhile, research in the medical journal Advances in Therapy indicates that garlic supplements can reduce the number of colds by 63 percent compared with a placebo. This, apparently, is thanks to its ability to boost the immune system.

It is also a good ally to minimize the impact of free radicals on the body. The journal Journal of Nutrition suggests that its antioxidants protect the body from oxidative damage, reducing the risk of premature aging and disease.

We found that making garlic oil goes beyond its uses in gastronomy. Its moderate consumption, for example, a teaspoon a day, contributes to health promotion. In any case, it is not a treatment for illnesses, but a supplement to maintain well-being.