Fried shallots and garlic

Fried shallots and garlic

I love to cook!  Especially utilising fresh ingredients, bought this very day from my local fishmonger and greengrocer.  Whenever possible, I cook from scratch, you just can't beat the aromatic flavours of garlic, ginger, cumin, tumeric, chilli, coriander, lemongrass, et al, and the immense pleasure of creating your own pastes for cooking.

A favourite for me to whip up is Thai style fish soup, it varies mostly with what fresh vegetables I have on hand, and what fish I have picked up from the fishmonger.  A staple, however, are what I term as "sprinkles".

Sure, you can get fried shallots and garlic, all neatly packaged up from your local asian grocer, or indeed the supermarket, but compared to cooking up your own fresh, crispy fried batch, you may as well be topping your meal with shredded cardboard.

Lovely sliced shallots and garlic - mmmmmmmm....

•  Peel, and finely slice into rings, 6 shallots (the lovely pink skinned, small, pungent onions).  
• Peel and finely slice 6 cloves of garlic.
• Break up the shallot rings, combine with the garlic in a microwave proof bowl.  Sprinkle with two pinches of sea salt, drizzle with vegetable oil, stir gently to coat.

Depending on your microwave.  On HIGH for 3 minutes, stir, then on HIGH for another 3 minutes.  Best to time the second heating, minute by minute, checking for browness and crispyness.  Remember, the shallots and garlic will continue to sizzle for a minute or two after removal.

Crispy sprinkle goodness!

 Store in an airtight container, for no longer than a week or two, or simply use immediately.