Garlic Smashing

Why press it when you can whack it?

Many years ago I was at my friend Charles' house and we were cooking and he remarked that "You don't press garlic. You smash it."

Say what? He then took a meat cleaver, pul a whole garlic clover on a cutting board and whacked it (hard) with the side of the clever. What was left was a decidedly smashed garlic clove and all we had to do was remove the outer husk.

I've never forgotten it, but lacking a heavy duty meat cleaver I've come up with a slightly gentler version that's essentially the same. The biggest feature of garlic smashing instead of pressing is:

it's very entertaining
way faster since you don't have to peel it first
no garlic press to clean (which is always a royal pain)
takes out frustrations, though it you're frustrated you probably shouldn't be around sharp knives

(click for a larger version)


Break off a clove and trim the ends	Position the knife horizontally above the clove


Press down on the knife until you feel it crush	Weirdly satisfying


Remove the husk	Chop the clove further if you wish

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