Introducing Ginger Garlic Paste: a Staple in South Asian Cooking

Ginger garlic paste is a staple ingredient in South Asian cooking, forming the base of many marinades, gravies, and stir-fries.

Sep 15, 2022 - 23:41

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Introducing Ginger Garlic Paste: a Staple in South Asian Cooking

Ginger Garlic Paste in a Bowl Surrounded by Pieces of Garlic and Ginger — Simply Recipes / Karishma Pradhan

Ginger garlic paste consists of raw ginger and garlic blended until smooth, and some variations incorporate oil, water, or salt for texture and flavor. In its raw form, the paste is quite pungent and spicy, but when cooked in fat, it provides an earthy, warm, sweet, and zingy flavor to a dish.

Ginger garlic paste is an extremely popular condiment. Many South Asian households make it fresh, then store it in the fridge for daily cooking.

How to Make Ginger Garlic Paste from Scratch

While you can purchase ginger garlic paste, it's easy to make it yourself. My great-grandmother used to grind her ginger and garlic into a paste by hand using a flat stone and a stone rolling pin!

These days, many home cooks elect to use a small electric blender or wet spice grinder. I use the Shardor wet spice grinder, and I highly recommend it. Unless you're making a large batch, I recommend using the smallest blender cup you have at home; otherwise, the blade will have trouble grinding the aromatics into a paste.

Freezing and Storage Instructions

Freshly-made ginger garlic paste will keep in the fridge in an airtight container for 3 to 7 days. When cooking, use a clean spoon to remove the paste from the container.

You can freeze the paste if you'd like to make a larger batch for longer-term storage. First, transfer the paste to an ice cube tray and freeze until solid. Next, pop out the individual cubes and place them in a sealed Ziploc bag; keep them in the freezer for 1 to 2 months.

Then, when ready to use, you can add an individual cube straight from the freezer (no need to thaw) to sauté in cooking.

Where to Purchase Ginger Garlic Paste

Alternatively, you can purchase a pre-made jar at specialty Indian stores or on Amazon if you'd like to forgo making your own paste.

Recipes with Ginger Garlic Paste

Ginger garlic paste makes an excellent marinade for chicken and seafood, especially when mixed with yogurt and spices. Or, for an easy side dish, sauté some green beans with a bit of oil, ginger garlic paste, and lemon juice.

Looking for more inspiration? Try these recipes out:

Prep the garlic and ginger:

Peel and roughly chop the garlic and ginger.

Start blending:

Begin blending the garlic and ginger in a wet spice grinder or small electric blender. As you blend, you will notice the garlic and ginger break down into smaller and smaller pieces.

Add salt and oil:

At some point, you may notice the blender struggling to turn the fine shards of garlic and ginger into a paste. Add a pinch of salt and the oil, then continue blending.

Finish blending:

If needed, add another teaspoon of oil at a time and blend again until the mixture turns into a homogenous, smooth paste with a slightly fluffy texture.