How to Make Crispy Fried Garlic Chips Recipe (Tỏi Phi)

Crispy fried garlic chips are one of those snacks that are hard to resist. As soon as you pop one in your mouth, you want more! The combination of the crunchy texture and bold, savory garlic flavor is simply addictive.

Homemade crispy garlic chips are so much better than the store-bought variety. You can control the freshness and quality of the garlic, resulting in a crispier chip with a more pronounced garlic taste. Making them at home takes just a few simple ingredients and you’ll impress yourself with how easy it is.

Adding crispy garlic chips is a great way to instantly elevate soups, salads, pasta, pizza, sandwiches, and more. The texture contrasts beautifully with tender or soft ingredients while the garlic flavor punches up the overall taste. Don’t be afraid to get creative with these chips—they make an excellent garnish for just about any dish.

What Are Crispy Fried Garlic Chips?

Crispy fried garlic chips are thin slices of garlic that have been fried in oil until golden brown and crunchy. The frying process transforms the pungent raw garlic into something irresistibly crispy, nutty, and addictive.

To make the chips, garlic cloves are first thinly sliced. The thinner the slices, the crispier the finished chip will be. The sliced garlic is then fried in hot oil—usually a neutral oil like vegetable or canola—for just 1-2 minutes until browned and sizzling. A sprinkling of salt is added right after frying to season the chips.

Frying the garlic accelerates the Maillard reaction, which produces the rich, toasty flavor. It also drives out moisture from the garlic, resulting in a dry, crispy texture similar to a potato chip. The garlic becomes beautifully caramelized and so crunchy it crackles!

Garlic chips are thought to have originated as a popular street food in China. They can be found across Asia in many flavorful variations such as five spice garlic chips popular in Taiwan. Koreans also embrace crispy garlic as a flavor booster, adding it to classics like kimchi fried rice.

How to Make Crispy Fried Garlic Chips Recipe

Making crispy garlic chips only requires a few ingredients:

Ingredients:

• Garlic cloves
• Oil for frying (vegetable, canola, peanut, etc.)
• Salt
• Other seasonings (optional)

Steps:

1. Peel garlic cloves and slice very thinly into rounds. A mandoline works great for getting perfectly thin uniform slices.
2. Heat 1 inch of oil in a heavy bottomed pot or pan to 300-350°F.
3. Fry garlic slices in batches for 1-2 minutes, until golden brown. Remove with a slotted spoon to a paper towel-lined plate.
4. Immediately sprinkle with salt and toss to coat while still hot. Season with other spices as desired.
5. Let cool completely before serving for maximum crispness. Store in an airtight container.

Tips for Extra Crispy Chips:

• Use fresh, firm garlic. Older garlic has more moisture.
• Slice garlic as thin as possible, ideally 1/16 of an inch or less.
• Use a thermometer and maintain oil temperature between 300-350°F.
• Fry in small batches to prevent overcrowding.
• Let chips drain on a paper towel-lined plate before salting.
• Allow chips to cool fully before storing to set the crisp texture.

Get creative with the flavors! Try seasoning your fried garlic chips with Cajun spice, grated Parmesan, Chinese five spice, or smoked paprika. Infuse the oil with herbs before frying. The possibilities are endless.

How to Use Crispy Fried Garlic Chips

On their own, crispy garlic chips make a fabulously addictive snack. Their intense flavor and crunchy texture satisfies cravings. For an easy appetizer, serve the chips in a bowl with a flavorful dip like hummus, baba ganoush, or tzatziki.

Crispy garlic chips also serve as a fun, flavorful garnish for countless savory dishes. Here are some delicious ways to use them:

• Sprinkle over salads, grain bowls, pasta, pizza, sandwiches for a punch of garlic.
• Garnish soups like chili, ramen, tomato soup, wonton soup. They add nice crunch.
• Use as a crunchy topping for mashed potatoes or roasted veggies.
• Top nachos, tacos, enchiladas, quesadillas—the garlic pairs amazingly with Mexican flavors.
• Add to roast chicken, steak, or fish before serving for extra flavor.
• Coarsely crush the chips and use to coat chicken, fish, or shrimp before baking or frying.
• For breakfast, use garlic chips to top avocado toast, scrambled eggs, oatmeal.
• Infuse olive oil with garlic chips and red pepper flakes for a spicy bread dipper.
• Sprinkle over hummus, baba ganoush, tzatziki, or bean dips.

The applications are endless. Allow your creativity to run wild with these versatile crispy chips!

Tips for Achieving the Perfect Crunch

Achieving the perfect crunch with crispy garlic chips requires paying attention to a few key factors:

• Use Fresh, Firm Garlic: Choose heads of garlic with tight, plump cloves. Avoid old garlic that feels soft or has green shoots—it contains more moisture. The fresher the garlic, the crispier it will fry.
• Slice Thinly and Uniformly: Use a sharp knife or mandoline to cut garlic into very thin, uniform slices, ideally 1/16 inch thick or less. Thinner slices fry up lighter and crispier than thick slices.
• Fry at the Right Temperature: Heat oil to 300-350°F. This hot but not smoking temperature crisps the garlic chips without burning them. Use a deep fry or candy thermometer for accuracy.
• Fry in Small Batches: Fry garlic slices in small batches so they aren’t crowded in the oil. Too many chips lower the oil temp and prevent even crisping.
• Drain and Dry: Drain fried chips on a paper towel-lined plate to absorb excess grease. Drier chips are crispier.
• Cool Completely Before Storing: Let chips cool fully before storing. Warm chips will steam and lose their crispness. Store completely cooled chips in an airtight container.
• Season Lightly: Just a sprinkling of salt and other dry spices is enough to season these bold chips. Too much seasoning overwhelms the garlicky flavor.

Conclusion: Fried Garlic Chips Recipe

For such a simple snack, crispy fried garlic chips offer so much flavor and versatility. Their crispy, caramelized texture paired with the aromatic garlic taste makes them irresistibly moreish. Making them at home lets you control the freshness and quality of ingredients for the best results.

Frying your own garlic chips also lets you get creative with flavors. Try global spice blends or mix in herbs, cheeses, and other seasonings. These crunchy chips make an easy yet impressive garnish for countless savory dishes from pastas to salads, tacos, soups, and more. Their intense garlic flavor and delightful crunch enhances anything you pair them with.

With just a bit of preparation and a short stint in hot oil, you can make a batch of crispy garlic chips that are infinitely better than anything from a store. Once you try them, you’ll be hooked! So fire up that oil and get ready to fry your way to flavorful, crispy perfection.