How to Make Garlic Confit in the Oven: A Complete Guide

Garlic Confit Oven is a culinary gem that transforms the sharp, pungent flavor of raw garlic into a mellow, sweet, and aromatic ingredient. Whether you’re an experienced chef or just beginning your cooking journey, making garlic confit is easy and immensely rewarding. This French cooking technique involves slowly cooking garlic cloves in oil at a low temperature, creating a tender, caramelized result that can elevate a wide variety of dishes.

What is Garlic Confit?

Garlic confit is garlic that’s slowly cooked in oil at a low temperature. Unlike raw garlic, which can be sharp and overpowering, garlic confit takes on a mellow, sweet, and caramelized flavor after being slow-cooked for hours. The slow-roasting process transforms the pungency of garlic, creating a smooth and savory taste that can be used in a variety of dishes.

The word “confit” is derived from the French word “confire”, meaning “to preserve.” While this method was traditionally used to preserve meats by cooking them slowly in their own fat, the technique has since been adapted to other foods like garlic, vegetables, and fruits.

Pro Tip: When making garlic confit in the oven, the garlic cloves will not only become tender but also infuse the oil with their flavor, creating an aromatic, rich liquid perfect for other dishes.

Why You Should Make Garlic Confit in the Oven

There are several methods for making garlic confit, but the oven method is particularly convenient. Here are a few reasons why making garlic confit in the oven is so effective:

• Even Cooking: The oven provides consistent, indirect heat that ensures the garlic cooks evenly without any risk of burning.
• Hands-Off Cooking: Once the garlic and oil are in the oven, you don’t have to monitor it constantly. This gives you the freedom to prep other dishes while it’s cooking.
• Flavored Oil: The oil in which the garlic cooks becomes infused with its flavor, making it a fantastic addition to salads, sauces, or marinades.

So, whether you’re new to cooking or an experienced home chef, making garlic confit in the oven is one of the simplest and most rewarding techniques to add to your repertoire.

Ingredients for Garlic Confit

Making garlic confit requires only a few simple ingredients. Here’s what you’ll need:

Main Ingredients:

• Garlic bulbs: Typically, 2 to 3 full heads of garlic will yield about 20-30 garlic cloves, but you can increase or decrease the quantity as needed.
• Olive oil: You’ll need enough oil to submerge the garlic cloves. Olive oil is ideal because it adds its own rich flavor, but you can use other oils such as avocado or vegetable oil as well.
• Herbs (optional): Fresh rosemary, thyme, or bay leaves work wonderfully with garlic confit. These herbs enhance the flavor of the garlic and add extra complexity to the oil.

Equipment:

• Oven-safe dish: A small, shallow baking dish works best, such as a ceramic ramekin or a baking dish that can fit all the garlic cloves.
• Storage jar: Once cooled, you’ll need an airtight jar or container to store your garlic confit. Ensure that the garlic is fully submerged in the oil to preserve its freshness.

Step-by-Step Guide to Making Garlic Confit in the Oven

Now that you have everything ready, it’s time to make your garlic confit. Follow these simple steps to create this flavorful ingredient in your kitchen.

Step 1: Preheat the Oven

Start by preheating your oven to 250°F (120°C). This low temperature is essential for slow-roasting the garlic without burning it. The garlic needs a long cooking time to fully transform into a sweet, caramelized treat, so don’t rush this process.

Step 2: Peel the Garlic Cloves

Next, take your garlic bulbs and break them into individual cloves. There’s no need to chop or mince the garlic — simply peel the individual cloves. A quick trick for peeling garlic cloves is to place the flat side of a chef’s knife on the clove and give it a gentle press. This will loosen the skin, making it easy to peel off.

While peeling, discard any damaged or sprouting cloves. You’ll want to use fresh, firm cloves for the best result.

Step 3: Add the Garlic to the Baking Dish

Place the peeled garlic cloves into your oven-safe dish. Spread them out evenly, ensuring they don’t overlap too much. The goal is for each clove to cook evenly in the oil.

Step 4: Pour Olive Oil Over the Garlic

Once the garlic is in the dish, pour olive oil over the cloves. The oil should completely cover the garlic — this will help cook the cloves evenly and prevent them from drying out. If you’re using herbs, you can place a couple of sprigs of rosemary or thyme on top of the garlic cloves. The herbs will infuse the oil and garlic with their aromatic flavors as they cook.

Step 5: Slow-Cook the Garlic

Now, place the dish in the preheated oven and let the garlic cook slowly for 1.5 to 2 hours. You can check on the garlic every 30 minutes, but avoid opening the oven too frequently. The garlic is ready when it becomes soft, tender, and golden brown. It should be easily mashed with the back of a spoon.

Step 6: Cool and Store the Garlic Confit

Once the garlic confit is done cooking, remove it from the oven and let it cool to room temperature. After cooling, transfer the garlic and the oil into an airtight jar or container. Make sure the garlic cloves are fully submerged in the oil to preserve their freshness.

Pro Tip: Garlic confit can be stored in the fridge for up to 2 weeks. You can also freeze it in ice cube trays to use later in your favorite dishes.

Ways to Use Garlic Confit

Garlic confit is an incredibly versatile ingredient that can be used in countless ways. Here are a few ideas to get you started:

1. Garlic Confit Toast

One of the simplest and most delicious ways to enjoy garlic confit is by spreading it on toasted bread. Mash a few cloves of the confit onto a piece of crispy, toasted baguette or sourdough. Drizzle some of the garlic-infused oil over the top for extra flavor.

2. Pasta Dishes

Garlic confit can be added to a variety of pasta dishes. Mash a few cloves and stir them into a simple olive oil-based pasta sauce, or use the garlic-infused oil as a base for sautéing vegetables. It pairs particularly well with pasta dishes featuring tomatoes, cream, or pesto.

Pro Tip: You can use garlic confit as an alternative to fresh garlic in your favorite pasta recipes. The flavor is milder and smoother, providing a more delicate garlic taste.

3. Roasted Vegetables

Toss roasted vegetables such as potatoes, carrots, and Brussels sprouts in the garlic oil before roasting. The garlic confit will infuse the vegetables with its sweet and savory flavor, making them even more delicious. It’s a simple way to elevate a side dish.

4. Salad Dressings

Use the garlic-infused oil as a base for homemade salad dressings. Mix it with balsamic vinegar, mustard, or lemon juice for a fresh, garlicky vinaigrette. The garlic will add depth and complexity to your salad, making it an even more satisfying side dish.

5. Mashed Potatoes

Garlic confit is perfect for mashed potatoes. Add some of the softened garlic cloves along with butter and cream to create ultra-creamy, garlic-infused mashed potatoes. This twist on a classic side dish will add richness and flavor.

Health Benefits of Garlic Confit

Garlic is known for its health benefits, and even when it’s cooked into a confit, it retains many of these benefits. Here are some reasons why garlic is good for you:

• Supports Heart Health: Garlic is known to help reduce blood pressure and cholesterol levels.
• Boosts Immunity: Garlic has antimicrobial properties that can help protect against infections.
• Anti-inflammatory: Garlic contains antioxidants that help reduce inflammation in the body.

Pro Tip: While garlic confit has a milder flavor than raw garlic, it still provides many of the same health benefits.

How to Store Garlic Confit

To ensure your garlic confit stays fresh, store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator. As mentioned earlier, the garlic confit can last up to 2 weeks if stored properly. Make sure the garlic is fully submerged in the oil to prevent any air exposure, which can lead to spoilage.

Conclusion

Making garlic confit in the oven is a simple yet rewarding process. The result is a sweet, caramelized garlic that can be used in a variety of ways to enhance your cooking. Whether you add it to pasta, vegetables, or mashed potatoes,

Why Not Try Something Sweet After?

After preparing a savory dish with garlic confit, why not finish your meal with a delicious dessert like Easy Slutty Brownies? The rich, sweet contrast will make the garlic confit even more memorable.

A Healthy Option for Pairing

If you are looking for a healthier dish to complement the richness of garlic confit, consider making Baked Tofu. You can even marinate the tofu in some garlic confit oil for a tasty infusion.