Martha Stewart's 1-Ingredient Upgrade for the Best Potato Casserole Ever
All it takes is a nice rub of garlic.
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If you have a clove of garlic then you’re just one step away from Martha Stewart’s simple trick for the most delicious potato casserole. What's so special about a clove of garlic? It's not about the ingredient per se, it's about how the garlic is used.
Garlic is an aromatic ingredient with incredible flavor and aroma, but it can sometimes be overpowering. Luckily, the secret to Martha's creamy scalloped potatoes and the reason they are the best is that she uses a simple technique to impart an essence of garlic.
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Simply Recipes / Mark Beahm
Martha Stewart Smart Garlic Trick
When you want garlic flavor, but not actual garlic, try this easy trick that Martha uses in her recipe for potato casserole.
Grab a clove of garlic, smash it gently, and then remove the papery skin and expose the insides of the smashed clove. Rub the sides and bottom of your casserole dish with the clove. That’s it! This will flavor your potatoes with more of a garlic “vibe”—like the garlic floated nearby and happened to leave a little dusting of itself in the process.
Save the clove to chop or mince for use in another dish and proceed with your recipe.
Get Recipe with Title: Martha Stewart's Creamy Scalloped Potatoes Recipe
Why This Trick Is So Smart
Garlic’s flavor becomes stronger when it’s sliced, minced, or smashed, thanks to a chemical reaction that happens when its cell walls are damaged and exposed to oxygen.
When you rub your casserole dish with a smashed or sliced clove, you capitalize on that reaction, using garlic at its most flavorful state to impart the flavor of garlic, without having to add any garlic. It’s subtle but perfect for dishes like Martha’s potato casserole.
How Else You Can Use Martha's Smart Trick
If you think smearing a smashed clove over a casserole dish is fun, then wait until you try this in other dishes!
One of my favorite ways is using a sliced or smashed clove to brush slices of bread before toasting. These garlicky (but not too much) toasts are delicious for everything from bruschetta to tuna melts.
Try the easy trick with other vessels too. For example, rub some in your pasta or salad bowl before tossing the food inside to add a touch of garlic. Or rub cloves on the skins of potatoes, sweet potatoes, or other large vegetables for an added layer of flavor before cooking. The opportunities to use "garlic essence” are limitless!
The Best Potato Casserole Recipes
Read the original article on Simply Recipes.
