How to Make Pickled Garlic

⭐ Why You’ll Love This Recipe 

When it comes to basic ingredients, there are few things I love more than garlic. I’ll happily slather roasted garlic on my morning toast, eat spoonfuls of garlicky pesto straight from the jar, and use sourdough garlic bread as the base of any sandwich, burger, or, really ANY meal, that you throw my way.

Another food that I’m just as enamored with? PICKLES! Briny, vinegary, mouth-puckering pickles are one of my favorite snacks, condiments, and ingredients around. So, the idea of mixing my love of spicy alliums with a timeless preservation method? It’s a no-brainer!

Whether I stuff these pickled garlic cloves into cocktail olives as an alternative to blue cheese, chop them up and add them to my Panzanella for a vinegary pop, or eat them straight from the jar, they always bring a smile to my face.

Aside from being a delectable addition to any savory meal, this marinated garlic recipe is also:

• Quick & Easy - Simmer the brine, peel the garlic, mix everything together in a jar, and pop it in the fridge. Your active kitchen time is mere minutes!
• Wholesome & Nutritious - Garlic is already good for you, but pickling it just might be better for you. As it turns out, pickled garlic benefits include all the health perks of raw garlic! Pickling garlic (and other veggies) not only gives it a tangy, craveable flavor but also boosts the probiotic content of the cloves.  
• Budget-Friendly & Meal Prep-Friendly - Pickling and canning garlic is an age-old tradition to help extend the shelf life of your cloves. Next time you go a little overboard on buying garlic, try this simple method — once made, it’ll last in the fridge for up to 3 months.

🍴Ingredients

Pickled garlic is the best way to enjoy garlic bulbs and heads of garlic as a tangy, flavorful addition to any dish.  As promised, you only need a handful of ingredients to make this recipe for pickled garlic. Here’s what to grab:

• White Vinegar: This neutral staple kitchen ingredient is often given short-shrift, but it's delightful for pickling. You can substitute white vinegar with other vinegars like white wine vinegar, champagne vinegar, or distilled vinegar, but keep in mind that each vinegar has a slightly different taste, which will affect the final flavor of your pickled garlic.
• Apple Cider Vinegar: Apple cider vinegar adds a mild fruity flavor to the pickling liquid, complementing the tanginess of the white vinegar. Alternatives include rice vinegar (for a milder, slightly sweet flavor) or red wine vinegar (for a more robust and fruity taste).
• Kosher Salt: Kosher salt helps to preserve the garlic and enhance its flavor. You can substitute kosher salt with sea salt or pickling salt, but avoid iodized table salt which tends to taste a little bitter.
• Fresh Garlic Cloves: The star of this recipe! You can experiment with different varieties like elephant garlic or purple garlic for subtle variations in flavor and size.
• Fresh Dill: For an herby, slightly sweet note that gives them a dill pickle vibe. You can also experiment with other fresh herbs like tarragon, thyme, rosemary, or oregano.
• Green & Red Peppercorns: These colorful peppercorns add a hint of warmth. You can substitute them with black peppercorns, tongue-tingling Szechuan peppercorns, or coriander seeds for a different level of heat and flavor.
• Red Pepper Flakes: For an extra kick of heat. Feel free to adjust the spiciness by increasing or decreasing the amount used. You’re also welcome to use other spicy ingredients like fresh sliced jalapeños instead.

⏲️ Substitutions & Variations

As much as I love these simply pickled cloves of garlic, there are plenty of opportunities for you to play around with the recipe and make it your own. Here are a few ideas to get you started:

• Sweet Pickled Garlic - Replace the apple cider vinegar with rice vinegar and add a couple of tablespoons of sugar to the pickling liquid. 
• Extra Spicy Pickled Garlic - Increase the red pepper flakes and/or add a few slices of fresh jalapeno. For added texture and color, try adding in some thinly sliced red onions. 
• Quick Pickled Garlic - Want all the flavor of pickled garlic, but don’t have the patience to wait a full week? Try slicing the individual cloves first so the pickling liquid can soak in faster. You should be able to shave the processing time down to just 24 hours if you do.

📖 Step by Step Instructions

Step 1: Warm the Pickling Liquid. Pour the white vinegar, apple cider vinegar and salt into a small saucepan over medium high heat until the mixture has come to a gentle simmer, almost a boil.

Step 2: Assemble the Pickle Jar. Layer the garlic cloves, dill, peppercorns, mustard seeds and red pepper flakes into a clean, airtight container. Pour the pickling brine over the ingredients and seal the container. 

Step 3: Wait. Allow the garlic to pickle for at least a week, stored in the fridge. You can allow the garlic to continue pickling throughout the month, enjoying the garlic along the way as the flavors slowly intensify. 

👩🏻‍🍳 Expert Tips

• To make the process of peeling the pickled garlic cloves easier, lightly crush them with the broad side of a knife. The papery skins will come off effortlessly if you do. Alternatively, go for packaged peeled garlic for a serious convenience booster.
• Make sure to use a non-reactive saucepan (like stainless steel or enamel) for this easy recipe to avoid any off flavors.
• Patience is a virtue. Allow the garlic to marinate for at least a week before enjoying for the best, most pickle-y flavor.
• Sterilize your canning jar in boiling water (for about 5 minutes) before adding the ingredients to keep your pickles nice and fresh. Also, make sure to use a fresh fork or spoon each time you dig into the garlic pickles so you don't accidentally introduce any bad bacteria.

🍽️ How to Use Pickled Garlic:

Now that you know how to pickle garlic, here are some suggestions for using pickled garlic in your everyday cooking:

• Chop it up and add to homemade salsas or guacamole for a tangy twist.
• Use it as a topping for pizza, flatbread pizza, or bruschetta.
• Add whole cloves to a cheese or charcuterie board.
• Stir chopped pickled garlic into hummus, whipped cheese dips, or spreads.
• Add to stir-fries, grain bowls, or roasted vegetable dishes for a burst of flavor.

💭 Recipe FAQs