Make This Easy Garlic Paste to Save Yourself Valuable Meal Prep Time

Garlic has the power to take almost any dish to a whole new level. The smell alone is like something sent from heaven. But let’s face it: Sometimes the idea of peeling and chopping those cloves feels like way too much work, so we don’t do it and end up sacrificing flavor for convenience.

Never again!

Bestselling cookbook author Julia Turshen (@turshen) is shaking up Instagram with a video that demonstrates how to have garlic paste ready whenever you want it. Even she knows how game-changing her advice is, writing, “If you take nothing else from my work, please take this garlic paste tip. I do this a couple times of year + then I don’t have to peel or chop garlic for months at a time. It’s the gift I give myself.”

Here’s how it goes: “Peel a ton of garlic (put on a movie, get into it), chop finely in a food processor, add enough olive oil to make a paste, spread on a parchment-lined brownie tin or whatever fits in your freezer (separate layers with more parchment if you’re doing A LOT), freeze until firm, cut into cubes, store in containers in the freezer, thank your past self each time you use some.”

Hundreds of commenters have already replied with clapping hands emojis, calling this tip “brilliant” and “genius.” 

“Feels perfect for a Nancy Meyers film,” raves one commenter. “Love this and I bet your house smells amazing,” writes another.

With all the garlic you’ll have ready to go, making that viral 60-clove garlic soup will be a breeze. If that’s not your style, though, you may want to try a recipe or two from Julia’s cookbooks. You’ll understand why one of her most celebrated titles is named Small Victories.

This post originally ran on Kitchn. See it there: This Tip for Making Garlic Paste Will Keep You Stocked for Months on End