Fried Garlic

Fried garlic is just an overall handy condiment to have in your pantry.  The flavor is still there, the smell is still there, and now there’s crunch on top. It’s the lazy garlic move and I’m not embarrassed about it.

I buy a small container at the Asian grocery store few months. You can also fry your own from sliced cloves in neutral oil over low heat, but the store-bought version is so good for so cheap that I rarely bother. The one rule if you do fry your own: pull the garlic when it’s pale gold, not when it’s brown. A second too long and the whole batch turns bitter.

Why Fried Garlic is Great for Ramen

Fried garlic gives you garlic flavor and crunch in one move. Most ramen toppings give you one or the other. It also bridges spicy and rich bowls. A spicy ramen with fried garlic on top gets a savory base it didn’t have. A rich tonkotsu gets a textural top note that cuts through the fat.

In the picture above, I added it to my Creamy Cheesy Buldak with Imitation Crab for an extra crunch.

Ways to Add Fried Garlic to Instant Ramen

• On top of the finished bowl. A spoonful sprinkled across the noodles right before I take the first bite. The garlic stays crisp, the heat from the soup releases the smell, and you get a little crunch in every couple of bites.
• Stirred into the broth. Add a teaspoon to the broth in the last minute of cooking. The garlic softens and releases its oil into the soup, which gives the whole bowl a savory undertone. I do this when I want the flavor across every bite instead of in concentrated spots.
• The garlic oil drizzle. If you fried your own, save the oil. A small drizzle over the finished bowl carries the flavor into every noodle.

Order it online here: Crispy Fried Garlic

How to Serve It

Add fried garlic last. If you put it in early, the broth softens it and you lose the crunch you paid for. I usually plate the noodles, add the protein, then sprinkle fried garlic over the top with a small spoon. Stored in an airtight jar at room temperature, store-bought fried garlic keeps for months. Homemade keeps for about three weeks.

My Instant Ramen Suggestions

• Cielo Menudo Instant Ramen Noodle Soup
• Lucky Me Pancit Canton Hot Chili
• Itsuki Miso Tonkotsu
• Nongshim Shin Ramyun

Let me know your favorite ways to use fried garlic in the comments!