Immersed garlic cloves in aromatic oils create a versatile condiment that adds umami to any dish. Explore the craft of Smoked Garlic Confit preparation with this artistic recipe.
Smoked Garlic Confit is incredibly simple to make, yet it imparts such a powerful flavor boost to any dish you add it to. This culinary gem unlocks the full potential of garlic, highlighting a symphony of rich, savory notes, with a buttery smooth finish.
Through our slow smoking process, garlic undergoes a transformation, taking on the deep essence of smoke, while mellowing out to a velvety texture and a nuanced, irresistible flavor profile.
If you’ve never had smoked garlic confit before, I dare you to try out this recipe and spread it out on a piece of warm, toasted bread – the experience will be incredible.
What Is Garlic Confit?
Confit is a French cooking technique in which food is cooked slowly, at low temperatures, usually within some type of oil or fat. It’s similar to the low & slow smoking technique that’s common in barbecues and it yields really tender and flavorful results.
This process is usually done with meats, but in this case, we are employing it for our garlic cloves.
The Ingredients for Smoked Garlic Confit
- 1.5 cups Garlic Cloves (peeled)
- 4 sprigs of Thyme
- 1 tablespoon Black Peppercorns
- 1 teaspoon Red Chili Flakes
- 1 teaspoon Salt
- 1.5 cups Olive Oil
The Equipment Needed
- Smoker Grill (I’m using the Traeger Ironwood XL)
- Oven Safe Dish
Peel The Garlic For Your Garlic Confit
Peel 2 bulbs of garlic to yield approximately 1.5 cups of garlic cloves.
Pro Tip: You could also just buy pre-peeled garlic cloves, if you don’t want to go through the hassle of unwrapping your bulbs. You can find this at most grocery stores, in their produce aisle.
Combine Your Ingredients
In a medium sized oven safe dish, add in your peppercorns, salt and red chili flakes.
Then pour in enough olive oil just to cover the spices in the dish. Give it a quick stir to incorporate the ingredients.
Afterwards, add in your garlic cloves and pour in enough olive oil to completely submerge the cloves (about 1 cup).
Next, give it all another good stir and then layer on 4-5 sprigs of thyme on top.
Cooking Your Garlic Confit
Start up your smoker and set the temperature to 220°F.
Place your bowl of prepared garlic in your smoker and let it smoke for around 2.5 hours, or until the garlic has lightly browned and turned tender.
Alternative: If you don’t have a smoker or would rather not use it in this recipe, you could easily utilize your oven for a similar effect. Simply set your oven to 220°F and follow the same instructions above for amazing roasted garlic confit.
Remove from the smoker and let it cool for about 20 minutes, then transfer into a air tight container for storage.
Serving Your Garlic Confit
Garlic confit is very versatile and can be spread on toasted bread, tossed in with pasta, or blended into dressings for an injection of rich, aromatic flavor.
Even the infused oil that the garlic cloves were smoked in, can be used to provide an indulgent, gourmet touch to any culinary creation – making every bite, a memorable one.
However you serve it, make sure you have plenty of it on hand, as it can be quite popular at just about any dinner table.
Storing Your Garlic Confit
Store your Garlic Confit in an air tight container, for up to 2 weeks in the refrigerator. Or you could also freeze it for up to 2 months.
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Equipment
- 1 Smoker Grill, (I'm using the Traeger Ironwood XL)
Ingredients
- 1.5 cups Garlic Cloves, (peeled)
- 4 sprigs Thyme
- 1 tablespoon Black Peppercorns
- 1 teaspoon Red Chili Flakes
- 1 teaspoon Salt
- 1.5 cups Olive Oil
Instructions
Peel The Garlic For Your Garlic Confit
- Peel 2 bulbs of garlic to yield approximately 1.5 cups of garlic cloves.
- Pro Tip: You could also just buy pre-peeled garlic cloves, if you don't want to go through the hassle of unwrapping your bulbs. You can find this at most grocery stores, in their produce aisle.
Combine Your Ingredients
- In a medium sized oven safe dish, add in your peppercorns, salt and red chili flakes.
- Then pour in enough olive oil just to cover the spices in the dish. Give it a quick stir to incorporate the ingredients.
- Afterwards, add in your garlic cloves and pour in enough olive oil to completely submerge the cloves (about 1 cup).
- Next, give it all another good stir and then layer on 4-5 sprigs of thyme on top.
Cooking Your Garlic Confit
- Start up your smoker and set the temperature to 220°F.
- Place your bowl of prepared garlic in your smoker and let it smoke for around 2.5 hours, or until the garlic has lightly browned and turned tender.
- Alternative: If you don't have a smoker or would rather not use it in this recipe, you could easily utilize your oven for a similar effect. Simply set your oven to 220°F and follow the same instructions above for amazing roasted garlic confit.
- Remove from the smoker and let it cool for about 20 minutes, then transfer into a air tight container for storage.
Serving Your Garlic Confit
- Garlic confit is very versatile and can be spread on toasted bread, tossed in with pasta, or blended into dressings for an injection of rich, aromatic flavor.
- Even the infused oil that the garlic cloves were smoked in, can be used to provide an indulgent, gourmet touch to any culinary creation – making every bite, a memorable one.
- However you serve it, make sure you have plenty of it on hand, as it can be quite popular at just about any dinner table.
Storing Your Garlic Confit
- Store your Garlic Confit in an air tight container, for up to 2 weeks in the refrigerator. Or you could also freeze it for up to 2 months.
Nutrition
*Nutritional information is just an estimate derived by an online calculation tool.
FAQ
What is garlic confit?
Confit is a French cooking technique in which food is cooked slowly, at low temperatures, usually within some type of oil or fat. It’s similar to the low & slow smoking technique that’s common in barbecues and it yields really tender and flavorful results. This process is usually done with meats, but in this case, we are employing it for our garlic cloves.
How do you store garlic confit?
Store your Garlic Confit in an air tight container, for up to 2 weeks in the refrigerator. Or you could also freeze it for up to 2 months.
What can I do with garlic confit?
Garlic confit is very versatile and can be spread on toasted bread, tossed in with pasta, or blended into dressings for an injection of rich, aromatic flavor. Even the infused oil that the garlic cloves were smoked in, can be used to provide an indulgent, gourmet touch to any culinary creation – making every bite, a memorable one.
Kat
Never knew about garlic confit until this recipe. SO good with my baguette. I even put it in my pasta with a bit of red pepper flakes – yum!
Carrie Robinson
Oh wow! This sounds absolutely amazing. Perfect for a garlic lover like me. 🙂
Nicole Johnston
This looks so good and easy to make! Thanks for sharing the recipe. I’m going to make a batch!
FARAH ABUMAIZAR
I didn’t even know that garlic confit could be even better but smoking it sounds like a gamechanger! Thank you for this awesome recipe, can’t wait to try it out!
Holly
I love roasted garlic! I make it all the time, so when I came across your recipe, I knew I had to try it. We were smoking some chicken last weekend and I decided to try your recipe at the same time. So delicious. We spread it on bread to go along with dinner and have been using the oil as a dipping sauce all week. Thanks for sharing.
Ned
Not only were these amazing, but they made my house smell amazing! Thank you for this amazing recipe!