powder Tag

Continuing with our theme of preserving the harvest, this recipe is a great way to savor the amazing flavor we get with farm fresh onions and garlic.  Homemade seasonings are much more flavorful than their store bought counterparts.  This is by far one of my favorite ways to preserve onions and garlic.

DIY Onion and Garlic Powder

Ingredients:
onions (at least 2)*
garlic (at least 2-3 heads)*

*There’s no specific amount you need to have of the onions or the garlic.  However, I highly recommend using at least the quantity listed.  You can always use more!

  • Prep onions.
    • Peel.
    • Thinly slice. I used a mandolin set on the lowest setting (which was 1/16”).

  • Prep garlic.
    • Remove cloves from head of garlic and peel.
    • Slice as thin as possible.

  • Lay out onion and garlic slices on dehydrator racks in single layer. **

  • Place in dehydrator at 135° and allow the magic to happen.

  • Dry time will vary depending on thickness of slices and moisture content of produce.
    • Just to give you an idea of timing, my onions took about 18 hours total. The garlic took over 24 hours (its harder to cut them thin like the onions).
    • The nice part about the dehydrator is you can just set it up, turn it on, and forget about it while the dehydration happens.
  • When the onion and garlic are dry enough, you will be able to pick it up and break it in your hands. If it bends instead of breaks or crumbles, then it is not ready yet.  They should be crispy and brittle.
    • Some pieces may dry quicker than others. If they do, simply remove them and set aside until all of it is done.

  • Once the onion and garlic are dry enough, you need to process it into powder. The best way to do this is using a clean coffee grinder.  You can also use a blender, food processor, or a mortar and pestle.  Process the dried onions until a nice powder is formed.  Do the same for the garlic.

  • Store in airtight containers.

**If you do not have a dehydrator, you may use your oven.  Set it on the lowest temperature setting possible.  The lowest my oven would go was 170°F.  Lay the onion and garlic slices on parchment lined baking sheets in a single layer.  Just like in the dehydrator, the drying time will vary.  I recommend leaving them for 4 hours and then begin checking every 30 minutes to an hour to test the dryness.  Mine took about 6-8 hours total.

Tips:

  • If you process the garlic or onion and your powder sticks together, pop it back in the dehydrator or oven and continue to remove the excess moisture. It should be nice and powdery.
  • If you don’t want to create powder, you can keep as chopped dehydrated onion and garlic. Still great for seasoning dishes.

 

Recipe and photos by Stephanie Borzio.  Stephanie is a mom of three active boys and is an autoimmune warrior.  After battling her own health for several years, Stephanie found healing through food and lifestyle changes, including joining Blooming Glen Farm CSA of which she is a long time member.  She is a Board Certified Integrative Nutrition Health Coach who is passionate about sharing healthy living tips and real food recipes.  Instagram and Facebook: Tru You Essentials; Website: www.truyouessentials.com