This section is from the book "Choice Dishes At Small Cost", by A. G. Payne. See also: Larousse Gastronomique.
I know there is with many persons a strong prejudice against garlic. I believe this to be owing to the fact that the majority of English cooks don't know how to use it. It keeps good a long time if kept in a dry place. It imparts, to my thinking, a most delicious flavour if used properly, and is very economical, as a little goes a long way; one pennyworth will last for a month. I will give you one or two instances. First, remember that as a rule garlic should not be cut or chopped, but its flavour should simply be imparted by rubbing.
Suppose you have a dish of minced beef, mutton, or veal: before you cut up and chop the meat take a bead of garlic - a lump splits up into beads - cut a little off the end first, and simply rub the chop-ping-board a little with the garlic.
This is quite sufficient to give a rich flavour to the mince.
Again, suppose you have a lettuce for a salad: first get the lettuce quite dry; then take a salad bowl and rub the bottom of the bowl with a bead of garlic. Then take a saltspoonful of salt and half a one of pepper, and mix it up with two table-spoonfuls of good oil. Toss the lettuce lightly together with this for two or three minutes, then add half a tablespoonful of vinegar. The garlic will be found to have given the salad a most delicious flavour.
Garlic is often a great help in making common materials very savoury.
 
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