For many of us, garlic makes the world go round! It’s not just a herb. No, it’s something that can transform the blandest of dishes into something so flavorful, your palette would be forever in your debt.
Garlic comes in many forms from its standard herb type to capsules. You can also use garlic salt, a popular seasoning that combines the pungent flavor of garlic with the taste of salt.
It is a staple ingredient in many kitchens and can be used to add flavor to a wide variety of dishes, from grilled meats to roasted vegetables.
Made from dried ground garlic, an anti-caking agent, and table or kosher salt, this handy condiment is a sure-fire way of improving many dishes.
However, if you run out of garlic salt or if you’re looking for a healthier alternative, there are plenty of substitutes that can be used in its place.
In today’s post, we’ll explore the best garlic salt substitutes and how to use them to achieve the same delicious flavor without the added salt.
Whether you’re watching your sodium intake or simply looking to switch up your seasoning game, this blog will provide valuable insights and ideas for delicious and healthy garlic salt substitutes.
What Is Garlic Salt?
Before we find out the best garlic salt substitutes, let’s discuss what garlic salt actually is. Essentially, garlic salt is a common type of seasoning used worldwide and found in many kitchens. It consists of garlic powder with an addition of table or kosher salt.
It can also be made by grinding garlic cloves with salt. Although a simple seasoning, garlic salt helps to add extra flavor to many dishes, including roasted carrots, cauliflower, and potatoes for a more savory kick, and pasta dishes like spaghetti.
Garlic salt can also act as a great finishing touch on certain foods, such as popcorn, bread, pizza, and a whole host of grilled meats and seafood. Not only can garlic salt provide a kick of rich, savory flavor, but it also has some potential health benefits.
For instance, it has been found that garlic salt is a great source of iodine which can help your thyroid function properly and healthily. It also boasts different minerals, like magnesium and potassium, that can aid your heart health and help strengthen bones.
Garlic salt isn’t just a flavor booster, but it can also be a health booster!
Garlic Salt Substitutes
We’ve all been there; you’re checking the recipe and it calls for an ingredient. You search your cupboards, your pantry, and every drawer in the house (okay, maybe not every drawer), but that golden ingredient is missing.
You could head to the store, but why do that if you can use an alternative. If you need an alternative to garlic salt, or simply want to try something different, check out these excellent substitutes below.
1. Garlic Powder And Salt
Garlic powder is one of the best alternatives to garlic salt. All you need is one tablespoon of kosher salt and one teaspoon of garlic powder. The result? Four teaspoons of garlic salt. You can use table salt but kosher salt is not as dense.
Therefore, its volume measurement tends to be less, but if you only need a little garlic salt, this shouldn’t matter too much.
2. Fresh Garlic
Fresh garlic is a great substitute for garlic salt, as it provides a strong garlic flavor without any added salt. All you need to do is blend some garlic cloves using a food processor until it becomes garlic purée.
Typically, around ⅛ to ½ a teaspoon of garlic powder will suffice, but this will vary depending on the garlic clove size. A good formula to follow is one tablespoon of kosher salt with two to eight cloves of pulped garlic.
This should equate to four teaspoons of garlic salt. If you need garlic powder for baking, this substitute may be the best option.
3. Garlic Juice
Garlic juice can flavor salt to create an excellent garlic salt alternative. Getting the right ratio for this one can be a little tricky, but you can usually follow the conversion on the product’s label. This is because some have a higher water to garlic ratio than others and vice versa.
To match three teaspoons of garlic salt, try one tablespoon of kosher salt plus two teaspoons of garlic juice. Then, try a little and, if needed, adjust the volumes to suit your preferences.
4. Garlic Flakes
You may be wondering if there is any difference between garlic flakes, garlic powder, and garlic granules. All in all. Garlic flakes tend to be larger than garlic granules. As for garlic powder, this is finely ground, hence its powder namesake.
Sometimes, however, granulated garlic and garlic flakes can be used interchangeably. Garlic flakes work well as a garlic salt replacement.
To substitute five teaspoons of garlic salt, try one tablespoon of kosher salt with two teaspoons of garlic flakes. Again, adjust where necessary.
5. Garlic Powder
Garlic powder and salt are another winning combo as an alternative to garlic salt. Their potent flavors make them suitable replacements for garlic salt in the majority of recipes.
Moreover, garlic powder and salt are more adaptable than garlic salt, providing more versatility in their usage. For instance, garlic powder can be utilized in creating various spice rubs, while salt can be incorporated in pickling recipes.
Thus, having garlic powder and salt readily available eliminates the necessity of stocking garlic salt. To make 5 teaspoons of garlic salt using garlic powder and kosher salt, you will need three teaspoons garlic powder and two teaspoons kosher salt.
Simply mix the garlic powder and kosher salt together until well combined. This mixture can be used as a substitute for garlic salt in any recipe.
6. Onion Salt
Garlic isn’t the only thing that can substitute… garlic. Instead, try onion salt. This is great if you do not like the overpowering flavor of garlic but still want something quite similar. Certain brands of onion salt can contain a mixture of onion and garlic, too.
Simply check the product’s label to see if any garlic is present. To make just one teaspoon of garlic salt, use one teaspoon of onion salt. Pretty simple, right?
7. Onion Powder
Onion powder is another useful substitute that most of us have in our kitchens. If you want something that tastes similar to garlic salt but is completely garlic free, this is one to try.
Just one teaspoon of onion powder mixed with a tablespoon of kosher salt will substitute for four teaspoons of garlic salt.
8. Lemon Pepper
Lemon pepper seasoning is a blend of lemon zest, black pepper, and other spices and can be used as a substitute for garlic salt in dishes where a tangy, citrus flavor is desired.
For the best results, combine one teaspoon of garlic powder with ½ a teaspoon of black pepper, and ½ a teaspoon of lemon zest. This will substitute one teaspoon of garlic salt.
In Summary
Whether you’ve run out of garlic salt, want to try something different, or are allergic to garlic, there are a number of different alternatives to try. Let us know which one you like the most.
Sometimes, you don’t have the ingredients you want at hand. If you need garlic salt in your recipe but have none, try these amazing substitutes instead.
Hi, I’m Aubrey, and I have been a chef for close to 8 years. Cooking has always been a passion of mine, as long as I can remember. I loved my play kitchen when I was a kid, and would offer my parents my own (albeit gross) cookie recipes to taste!
Here at ButterandSaltGatherings, I want to offer a wide range of ingredients, flavors, meals and recipes so that you can start living each day to the fullest, and enjoy only the best food.
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