Rice is a great side for any dish. When adding flavor, garlic provides a rich taste that will work well with meats, veggies, and more. Since rice is so affordable and readily available, many families have it in their pantry at all times. On its own, rice is a staple food, but it can be bland and boring. That's why recipes like this one are so important!
Even though the smell of garlic is difficult to get rid of, it is quite delicious and therefore a popular ingredient in many dishes like this garlic rice. Perfect for steak or chicken, garlic rice is a great side dish to add flavor to meals with meat as the main dish. This recipe includes fragrant herbs that blend perfectly with the stronger spices. Add this as a side to your entrees to take your meals to the next level.
Uses For Garlic
Garlic is neither vegetable, herb, nor spice. Though it is closest to a vegetable if you must choose one, it belongs in a category all its own and is closely related to the onion or shallot. Garlic has long been used for spiritual reasons and has also been looked at for its potential to improve health.
It contains several vitamins and nutrients, but these will only be significant if garlic is eaten in large amounts. Some say it can be beneficial in reducing blood pressure and cholesterol levels to minimize the risk of heart disease. It has also been known to support bone health, improve athletic performance, and it contains antioxidants that fight disease.
Garlic is also often used spiritually to ward off powers of good and evil. Most often associate it with its supposed abilities to ward off vampires; it is also displayed during celebrations like the Iranian New Year. However, Islam practice does not recommend eating it before going to a mosque, as it interferes with worship.
It has also been thought that garlic can work as an aphrodisiac to increase sexual desire.
But what garlic may be best known for is its ability to linger, causing breath and body odor. It contains sulfur compounds that are slow to digest and, therefore, they release gradually over time.
How to Get Rid of Garlic Breath
One of the unfortunate side effects of garlic is that it leaves a strong odor on your breath. This can be offensive to those around you, and embarrassing for you. There are a few things you can do to help reduce or eliminate the presence of garlic odor on your breath.
First, and perhaps most efficient, is to brush your teeth. Start with flossing, to free any bits of garlic that could be trapped between your teeth. Then, brush as normal. If your garlic breath is particularly bad, you may need to brush twice to rid yourself of it. Make sure you brush for at least two minutes, and don't forget to brush your tongue as well.
If you don't have the ability to brush, mouthwash can do the trick as well. Mouthwash is actually quite easy to bring with you. Many stores sell travel-sized bottles of mouthwash. These can easily fit in a pocket or purse, allowing you to bring it with you wherever you go. It might feel a little awkward to carry mouthwash around with you, but those around you will appreciate it when it works to get rid of your garlic breath.
If neither brushing your teeth nor mouthwash are options, try rinsing with water. This won't be quite as effective, but it can help make your garlic breath at least bearable. You'll likely want to rinse multiple times, just to ensure you're getting as much of the garlic lingering in your mouth as possible.
PrintEasy Garlic Rice
Ingredients
2 Tablespoons olive oil
1 medium onion, chopped fine
3 garlic cloves, minced fine
1 cup long grain rice
2 cups chicken broth
1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
1 bay leaf
1/4 cup parsley, chopped
Instructions
1. Place the oil in a skillet and sauté the onions and garlic until golden.
2. Add rice, broth, thyme, and bay leaf. Bring to a boil uncovered.
3. Turn heat to low, cover and simmer about 25 minutes or until the liquid is absorbed. Stir after 15 minutes.
4. Remove bay leaf and stir in the parsley. Serves 4.