As April, which is being observed as National Garlic Month, draws to a close, there’s still time to celebrate this universally acknowledged wonder food. Garlic is the strongest-flavoured and most assertive member of the lily family. It is a popular ingredient in almost all kinds of cuisines, owing to its strong aroma and flavour. It is known for its health benefits. The super food is loaded with antioxidants that are believed to zap cancer-causing free radicals as well as with Vitamin C and B6, and manganese that are essential for body functions. Once cooked, it lends its flavour to just about any main dish, side dish, soup, or sauce and pairs wonderfully with tomato, onion, parsley and ginger. Try these recipes…
Tomato garlic Sandwich
Ingredients
4 slices of white sandwich bread
1 medium, sliced tomato
1 tbsp butter
2 tsp garlic powder
1 tsp sandwich masala powder
2 slices of cheese cut into slivers
Salt to taste
Method:
Butter the bread slices. Sprinkle with garlic powder, sandwich masala powder and salt. Layer bread slices with cheese and sliced tomato. Arrange in greased sandwich grill and cook till the bread turns brown and crisp. Serve hot with sauce.
Chilli garlic noodles
Ingredients:
400 gm noodles, boiled
3-4 green chillies, finely chopped
8 cloves garlic, finely chopped
Half cup carrot, finely sliced
Half cup spring onion, finely sliced
Half cup cabbage, finely sliced
Half cup capsicum, finely sliced
1 tsp red chilli flakes
2 tbsp soya sauce
Salt to taste
Oil for cooking
Method:
Heat oil in a wok and fry garlic till it turns a light golden colour. Add carrot, cabbage, spring onion and capsicum and cook for a few minutes. Add salt, red chilli flakes, green chillies, soya sauce and noodles and mix well. Garnish with lemon juice, chaat masala and spring onion. Serve hot.
Butter garlic roti
Ingredients:
2 cups multigrain flour
10 garlic cloves
Half tsp red chilli powder
Half tsp turmeric powder
A handful of chopped coriander leaves
2 tsp oil for kneading
Water for kneading
Salt to taste
Butter for cooking
Method:
Make a paste of garlic cloves. Combine all the ingredients in a large bowl and knead into soft dough. Make small balls of this dough and roll them between the palms of your hands. Gently press each down and roll into chapatis. On a preheated tawa, place each roti and cook for a minute. Flip the roti to other side and smear it with a teaspoon of butter. Cook further on a low/medium flame for 2-3 minutes. Take the roti off from the tawa and smear it again with butter as required. Serve hot with curd or pickle.
