Making Garlic Confit In An Air Fryer: Is It Possible?

Yes, you can make garlic confit in an air fryer. Garlic confit is a French dish where garlic cloves are slow-cooked in olive oil. Typically, garlic confit is made in an oven or on a stovetop, but an air fryer provides a simpler, quicker way to make this dish. The air fryer's ability to roast garlic in under 30 minutes, without heating up the entire house, makes it a convenient and efficient option.

How to make garlic confit in an air fryer

Garlic confit is a delicious, buttery soft roasted garlic dish that can be made easily in an air fryer. The air fryer method is simpler and quicker than traditional oven or stovetop methods. Plus, you get the added bonus of garlic-infused olive oil to use in your cooking!

Ingredients:

• 2-3 heads of garlic, peeled (20-30 cloves)
• 1/2 to 1 cup of olive oil (enough to completely cover the garlic)
• Optional: a sprig of fresh thyme or rosemary for added flavour and aroma

Instructions:

• Place your peeled garlic cloves in a small oven-safe container with high sides, such as a ramekin or a cupcake tin.
• Add the olive oil to the container, making sure the garlic cloves are completely covered.
• If using, add the sprig of thyme or rosemary to the container.
• Set your air fryer to 275°F (some air fryers may require a lower temperature setting, such as 250°F or 200°F, to prevent the garlic from browning too much).
• Place the container in the air fryer and cook for 1 hour. There is no need to preheat the air fryer.
• Check on the garlic halfway through the cooking process. If it is browning too much, lower the temperature as mentioned in Step 4. The oil should be bubbling slightly but not deep-frying the garlic.
• Once the air fryer is done, allow the garlic confit to cool until it is safe to handle. Hot oil can splatter easily and cause burns.
• Once cooled, carefully remove the container from the air fryer and place it on a heat-safe surface until it is completely cool.
• Transfer the garlic confit and oil to a glass jar and store it in the refrigerator for up to 1 month. The oil may solidify in the fridge but will turn back to liquid at room temperature.

Serving Ideas:

• Mash a few cloves of garlic confit onto toast or a savoury scone, and sprinkle with coarse sea salt.
• Mix garlic confit and the garlic-infused oil into mashed potatoes for a rich, savoury flavour.
• Spread it on toast with avocado, seasoned with salt, pepper, and a squeeze of lemon juice.
• Use it as an appetiser by spreading it on crostini.
• Make garlic confit butter by mashing the garlic into roasted garlic dip.
• Use the garlic-infused olive oil for cooking or sautéing. Try flavouring hummus, white bean dip, or tossing it with roasted young potatoes.

How to store garlic confit

Garlic confit should be stored in a glass jar or plastic container with a tight-fitting lid. It can be kept in the refrigerator for up to a month, though some sources suggest a maximum of two to three weeks. The oil may solidify in the fridge but will return to liquid at room temperature. For longer storage, garlic confit can be kept in the freezer.

It is important to note that garlic confit should not be stored at room temperature. The anaerobic environment created by the olive oil can cause the growth of Clostridium botulinum, leading to the production of botulinum spores, which are toxic and can cause botulism.

What to serve with garlic confit

Garlic confit is a versatile dish that can be served in a multitude of ways. Here are some ideas for what to serve with garlic confit:

On Bread

Garlic confit can be spread on toast, sourdough, or crusty bread. For an extra kick of flavour, sprinkle with coarse sea salt and pair with avocado, or use it as a base for garlic bread. You can also make garlic confit butter and spread it on toast or scones.

In Dips

Garlic confit can be mashed into roasted garlic dip or whipped goat cheese to make a savoury creamy dip.

In Salads

Garlic confit can be added to salads, especially when paired with a vinaigrette. For a simple vinaigrette, add a few cloves of garlic confit to a jar, top with equal parts garlicky oil and vinegar, and sprinkle with salt and pepper.

In Sandwiches and Wraps

Add garlic confit to your favourite sandwich or wrap.

In Pasta

Garlic confit can be tossed with pasta, especially ramen or spaghetti.

In Vegetables

Garlic confit can be used to cook or dress vegetables. Try roasting asparagus, boiling potatoes, or making mashed potatoes and adding garlic confit for extra flavour.

With Steak

Garlic confit is a great pairing with steak, especially when served with charred lemons and crusty bread.

In Eggs

Fry an egg in garlic confit oil, or add a couple of torn cloves to scrambled eggs.

In Hummus

Add garlic confit to hummus for an extra kick of flavour.

In Soups

Add garlic confit to creamy soups, such as butternut squash or tomato.

In Noodles

Toss garlic confit with ramen or spaghetti noodles and add some pasta water and spinach or arugula for a simple and tasty dish.

Other Ideas

• Add to mashed carrots, parsnips, or cauliflower
• Spread on crostini as an appetizer
• Use in no-mayo potato salad
• Toss with roasted young potatoes
• Flavour hummus or white bean dip
• Add to goat cheese to make a savoury creamy dip

How to use garlic confit

Garlic confit is a versatile ingredient that can be used in a multitude of dishes. Here are some ways to use garlic confit:

As a Spread

Garlic confit can be spread on toast, crostini, or bread. For a savoury treat, sprinkle some coarse sea salt on top. You can also add avocado, salt, pepper, and a squeeze of lemon juice to the confit and spread it on toast.

In Dips

Mash the garlic into a roasted garlic dip or blend it with softened butter. You can also mix it with whipped goat cheese or ricotta to make a creamy dip. For a healthier option, stir it into plain Greek yoghurt and add some summer herbs.

In Sauces and Soups

Garlic confit can be used to flavour sauces and soups. Add it to your favourite marinara sauce or blend it with an immersion blender to make a red pizza sauce. For a white pizza sauce, make a beurre monte by mashing the confit garlic and adding a little water and emulsified butter. Finish it off with a touch of cream and salt. You can also add a spoonful or two to spaghetti aglio e olio or toss it with al dente spaghetti and reserved pasta water to loosen.

With Vegetables

Toss roasted or grilled vegetables with a spoonful of garlic confit. You can also dress raw vegetables with the garlic-infused oil, salt, and pepper before roasting them. For steamed vegetables, smash some cloves and whisk them with the infused oil before tossing. It goes well with asparagus, green beans, snow and snap peas, broccoli, and cauliflower.

In Salads

Slice the cloves in half and toss them into a tomato, basil, and toasted bread salad. You can also use some of the oil to briefly sauté corn-off-the-cob and toss it with sliced or smashed cloves, fresh basil, and feta. For a simple vinaigrette, whip a few cloves with some of the infused oil and vinegar.

With Meat

Baste grilled or roasted meats with a spoonful (or three) of the garlic-infused oil while they rest after cooking. It will blend with the meat's juices to create an instant sauce. You can also mix a spoonful of garlic confit into your hamburger mix or rub it onto chicken parts with lemon juice, chilli flakes, and oregano before roasting.

In Sandwiches and Pizzas

Spread a thin layer of garlic confit inside a grilled cheese sandwich and use the oil for frying. You can also layer it into any sandwich or pizza.

In Eggs

Fry eggs in a spoonful of the garlic-infused oil and top with a few sliced cloves, if desired.

In Hummus

Add garlic confit to hummus for extra flavour. Try it in caramelised onion hummus or sun-dried tomato hummus.

In Mashed Potatoes

Mash garlic confit (plus the oil) into mashed potatoes for a rich, savoury flavour.

In Pasta

Toss garlic confit with pasta and your choice of vegetables. A simple option is to pair it with fresh tomatoes and basil.

In Polenta or Risotto

Stir a spoonful of garlic confit and its oil into polenta or risotto and finish with grated Parmesan.

With Shrimp

Sauté shrimp with a spoonful of garlic confit, extra-virgin olive oil, and a splash of lemon juice

In Bruschetta

Sauté garlic confit with fresh diced tomatoes and basil and spoon the mixture onto toasted crusty bread.

In Aioli

Blend garlic confit with butter and/or mayonnaise to make aioli.

In Foccacia Bread

Stuff the cloves into homemade foccacia bread.

In Purees

Whip garlic confit into any vegetable puree for a sweet garlic flavour. Try it with potato, celery root, cauliflower, winter squash, or sunchoke puree.

In Corn on the Cob

Dress hot corn on the cob with the garlic-infused oil or blend the cloves into softened butter with a squeeze of lime juice or a dash of Old Bay seasoning.

In Tarka

Heat 1 to 2 tablespoons of the garlic-infused oil in a small skillet over medium heat. Add a pinch each of crushed cumin, mustard, and coriander seeds, and bring to a simmer. Drizzle this over cooked lentils, rice, or steamed or roasted vegetables.

The benefits of using an air fryer

Yes, you can make garlic confit in an air fryer. Garlic confit is garlic cloves that have been roasted in olive oil for a long time. The air fryer method is simpler than the traditional oven or stovetop methods, as it is quicker and requires less monitoring.

Healthy cooking

Air fryers allow you to cook food with minimal oil, reducing the amount of fat and calories in your meal. This is a healthier alternative to deep frying, which involves submerging food in oil. Air frying can also lower the amount of harmful chemicals produced during cooking, such as acrylamide, which is linked to an increased risk of cancer.

Perfectly cooked food

The way air fryers circulate hot air around food at high heat ensures a golden brown, crispy exterior and a moist, juicy interior. This method is ideal for cooking a wide variety of foods, from chicken and potatoes to vegetables and fish.

Quick and convenient

Air fryers heat up and cook food faster than traditional ovens, making them perfect for busy weeknights. They are also easy to clean, as the baskets can often be washed with soapy water or placed in the dishwasher.

Versatile

Air fryers can be used for a range of cooking methods, including baking, broiling, grilling, and roasting. They can also be used to heat up leftovers, such as pizza or grilled cheese, without making them soggy, as a microwave might.

Energy-efficient

Air fryers use less energy than traditional ovens and stovetops, reducing your carbon footprint and saving you money on your electricity bill. They also do not require preheating, allowing you to start cooking immediately.

Frequently asked questions