Fried Garlic Chips are the absolute best topping to jazz up just about any dish! Crunchy, savory, and aromatic, these garlicky crisps are so quick and easy to make at home. Follow my simple tutorial to learn the trick to keep them crispy for a long time.
Sometimes all you need is one or two special touches to transform your dish from plain to the most amazing. Like this aromatic la-yu chili oil. Or this seaweed-studded furikake seasoning. Or these crunchy, golden brown slices of garlic chips that I’m sharing today.
Beyond the crunch, garlic chips are packed with so much savory aroma that I consider them one of the best secrets a home cook should keep in their repertoire.
Table of Contents
What are Garlic Chips?
Garlic chips are the best form of garlic! Even people who are averse to fresh raw garlic will not resist the deliciousness of these fried garlic chips. They are aromatic without the pungency of raw garlic.
Here, we have thinly sliced garlic that is gently fried in oil until crispy, crunchy, and golden brown. Then use them as toppings on many dishes, from fried rice, stir-fries, noodle dishes, salads, or even fried eggs!
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Easy to make and store well. It takes less than 10 minutes to make these crunchies and they last a long time for multiple uses!
- Add amazing aroma and texture to any dish.
- Pan-frying instead of deep-frying. That means less oil and less mess.
How to Make Garlic Chips
The Ingredients You’ll Need
- Garlic cloves – Look for extra large garlic and they should feel hard and firm. The large garlic cloves make them easier to slice and easier to work with. You can typically find this garlic at Asian markets, gourmet grocery stores, or farmers’ markets.
- Neutral-flavored oil – I recommend using high-quality oil, especially if you wish to use garlic-infused oil for other uses too (Yes, you get a 2-in-1 recipe here). I love avocado oil as it has a high-smoke point and is suitable for frying. It is also a healthier option compared to other types of vegetable oil.
The Cooking Steps
- Thinly slice the garlic cloves. I use a sharp knife to slice them but you can use a mandoline slicer, too. Just be careful with it.
- Cook the garlic slices in the cooking oil over medium-low heat. DO NOT use high heat or else garlic will be easily burnt.
- Drain the oil well and store them in an airtight container.
Recipe Tips and Techniques
- Cut the garlic into thin, uniform slices so they cook evenly.
- Fry the garlic slices over medium-low heat and do not overheat your stove. Garlic cooks fast and turns bitter easily, so be sure to watch them closely.
- Use a Food Safe Silica Gel Desiccant Packet to keep your garlic chips crispy for a long time!
- Don’t discard the oil! This garlic-infused oil is the next best thing to the garlic chips. The oil is so fragrant to be used as salad dressing, marinating meat, and drizzling over eggs and veggies. My favorite? As a dip for fresh crusty bread!
Storage Tips
How to Store Garlic Chips
You can store the garlic chips in an airtight container and keep it in the refrigerator for up to a month. I recommend adding a Desiccant Packet for extra freshness and crispness.
How to Store Garlic Oil
You now have flavorful garlic oil remaining in the pan. You have the option to save this fragrant oil; simply strain it into an airtight glass container and store tightly sealed in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks. Use this garlic-infused oil for salad dressings, marinating meat, drizzling over eggs and steamed veggies, serving with fresh bread, and so on. If the oil is dark brown colored and smells burnt, don‘t keep it.
Delicious Ways to Use Garlic Chips
The garlic chips are so good on everything. Here are some ideas to get you started:
- Rice dishes – Garlic Fried Rice, Steak Garlic Rice, Vegan Poke Bowl, Japanese Rice Porridge (Okayu) or congee, and rice pilafs.
- Soups – Pressure Cooker Oxtail Soup, Creamy Roasted Cauliflower Soup, and Oxtail Soup.
- Noodle dishes – Oxtail Udon, Black Sesame Dan Dan Noodles, and Pasta with Shrimp and Broccolini.
- Salads or vegetables – roasted veggies or sautéed greens
- Sides – Tofu Salad, Chilled Tofu, Creamy Mashed Potatoes, and all kinds of stir-fried dishes.
Wish to learn more about Japanese cooking? Sign up for our free newsletter to receive cooking tips & recipe updates! And stay in touch with me on Facebook, Pinterest, YouTube, and Instagram.
How to Make Garlic Chips
Ingredients
- 7 cloves garlic (find an oversized garlic bulb that‘s about 2.75” in diameter; also called colossal garlic)
- ¼ cup neutral oil (for an 11-inch frying pan, you‘ll need at least ¼ cup or 60 ml of oil)
Instructions
- Gather all the ingredients. Use the outer large cloves of a colossal or very large garlic bulb.
- Peel 7 cloves garlic without crushing them. Then, cut them into thin, uniform slices. In Japan, garlic chips are usually sliced widthwise, but you can slice them lengthwise, if you prefer.
- Set a frying pan on medium-low heat and add ¼ cup neutral oil and garlic slices. Bring up to temperature and cook until the garlic is lightly golden brown, about 3–4 minutes. Tip: Make sure your stove‘s heat is not too strong as the garlic will burn if the heat is too high.
- Spread the garlic slices around the pan in a single layer using a spatula or chopsticks. Swirl the pan to ensure that all the garlic slices are well coated in the oil. The garlic slices should slightly sizzle while cooking. At the halfway point, flip over the garlic slices using either chopsticks or a slotted spatula. Tip: Do not leave the pan unattended because the color of the garlic goes quickly from pale to brown.
- When the garlic slices are lightly golden, remove from the pan using a slotted spoon or a fine-mesh skimmer spoon to drain the oil. Then, transfer to a paper towel-lined plate in a single layer to absorb any excess oil. Let cool completely.
- To an airtight glass jar, add one Food Safe Silica Gel Desiccant Packet to the bottom. Then, add the cooled garlic chips. Close the lid tightly. Your Garlic Chips are now ready to use.
To Collect the Garlic Oil (optional)
- You now have flavorful Garlic Oil remaining in the pan. You have the option to save this fragrant oil; simply strain it into an airtight glass container and store tightly sealed in the refrigerator. Use this garlic-infused oil for salad dressings, marinating meat, drizzling over eggs and steamed veggies, serving with fresh bread, and so on. Tip: If the oil is dark brown colored and smells burnt, don‘t keep it.
To Serve
- Serve the Garlic Chips as a crunchy and savory topping in rice dishes like Japanese Garlic Fried Rice, Vegan Poke Bowl, and Japanese Rice Porridge. They‘re delicious in noodle dishes such as Black Sesame Dan Dan Noodles, Oxtail Udon, and Pasta with Shrimp and Broccolini. Garlic Chips also make a tasty addition to Hamachi Crudo, tofu salad, sautéed greens, and simple stir-fries.
To Store
- Store the Garlic Chips in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to a month. Store the cooled Garlic Oil (optional) in an airtight jar in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks.
