Garlic Confit Recipe
Published October 23, 2023. This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy.
Learn how to make this simple garlic confit recipe of garlic cloves that are slowly roasted in oil until they are golden brown and soft. The flavor in these cloves is next level and can go in any recipe that calls for garlic.
If you’re new to garlic confit and want to figure out how to use it in a recipe, be sure to try it in my Homemade Hummus or Smoked Boneless Leg of Lamb.
Garlic Confit
Garlic confit are garlic cloves that are submerged in fat and slowly cooked over low temperatures until they are golden brown and tender. Confit is an ancient French technique of preserving food that is salted and slowly cooked in its own fat. This mainly refers to meats such as pork or poultry but is now applied to other foods such as vegetables.
While garlic doesn’t produce any fat, the process of confit is garlic cooking in fat, and the flavors from the garlic infuse the oil giving it incredible flavor. When meat is submerged in the oil, it acts as a seal and preservative so that the food lasts longer. You can treat and serve these roasted garlic confit cloves just like you would roasted garlic.
Ingredients and Substitutions
- Garlic – You will need root end trimmed fresh garlic cloves.
- Oil – Olive oil is the best oil to use. However, avocado oil will also work.
How to Make Garlic Confit
Trim the root end of the garlic clove, leaving as much of the clove intact as possible.
Add them to a small-sized saucepot and completely cover them in oil. It should cover the cloves by about a ½” to 1” inch.
Simmer over the lowest heat setting as possible until the cloves are lightly golden brown and very soft, like roasted garlic.
Remove from the heat and cool to room temperature before using or storing.
Make-Ahead and Storage
Make-Ahead: You can make this 1 week ahead of time.
How to Store: For freshness, keep submerged in the oil and cover and store in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks. You can freeze this submerged in oil and cover it for up to three months. Thaw it in the refrigerator for 1 day or until thawed before using.
How to Reheat: Add the desired amount of confit oil and garlic confit to a small-sized saucepot and heat over low heat until warm.
Chef Notes + Tips
- You can also use any confit fat that you may already have.
- This is an even better replacement for roasted garlic. Use it in the exact same manner.
Recipes Using Garlic
Garlic Confit Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 cups fresh garlic cloves
- 1 ½ cups olive oil
Instructions
- Trim the root end of the garlic clove, leaving as much of the clove intact as possible.
- Add them to a small-sized saucepot and completely cover them in oil. It should cover the cloves by about a ½” to 1” inch.
- Simmer over the lowest heat setting as possible until the cloves are lightly golden brown and very soft, like roasted garlic. This can take up to 45 minutes.
- Remove from the heat and cool to room temperature before using or storing.
I’m thinking saving the garlic separate from the oil but would still like to freeze it. How would you recommend doing that??
freeze it separate from the oil
This was outstanding. I work in our church Cafe. Do you think it would be okay to puree the garlic, place in ice cube trays and once frozen put in a freezer Ziploc. The garlic infused olive oil then can be used in other recipes. When we needed some garlic in a soup or sauce, we could pop a cube in. Would this destroy the great flavor of fresh garlic?
What temp would you say the oil should be? I like to do this in the oven. Thanks chef
low, maybe 225ish
Fantastic! Made this. Came out great! Much less time then in the oven. And used the infused oil in many more recipes!! Thank you!
Delicious and easy recipe! Thank you Parisi
I’d like to. I usually just roast my garlic for my toast
Appreciate you trying this!
Quick question – do you store the garlic in the oil you cooked them in – thanks
I love your recipes !!!!
yes
I used the garlic confit in my mashed potatoes! Topped with a little Gorgonzola cheese….delicious!
thank you!
Fabulous recipe thank you ChefBilly 😁👋😋🤩
appreciate you trying this!
Love to have this on hand. Flavors the oil nicely, too.
thanks!
Delicious and easy
thanks!