The Strength of Garlic’s Flavor Depends on How You Cut It

Plus, recipes and equipment for a vegetarian picnic. [START FREE TRIAL]( or [LOG IN]( [America's Test Kitchen: Notes from the Test Kitchen]( [America's Test Kitchen: Notes from the Test Kitchen]( [FIND RECIPES ›]( May 13, 2022 [A collection of recipes from this newsletter]( [A collection of recipes from this newsletter]( What’s New at ATK [Making Garlic Paste from Minced Garlic]( The Strength of Garlic’s Flavor Depends on How You Cut It Recipes call for garlic in various forms—whole, sliced, minced, and sometimes even paste.[That’s because the way you cut garlic determines its potency. →]( 11 Ways to Use Aquafaba, That Magical Chickpea Liquid Bind burgers and bake muffins, no eggs needed.[Here are aquafaba recipes you should know. →]( A Note From Our Test Cooks [Tofu Banh Mi; Lisa McManus Headshot]( A Vegetarian Picnic FROM Lisa McManus, Executive Editor, ATK Reviews In the spring and summer I love getting outdoors with friends and family for picnic lunches. I find being in fresh air and sunshine relaxing—and even think it makes food taste better! We’ve reviewed [picnic baskets in all styles]( from luxurious [traditional wicker baskets]( to comfy, easy-to-carry [picnic backpacks](. A great picnic basket not only is stylish and fun, setting the stage for your feast, but also ensures that you have all the right gear for serving the meal. If you don’t have a picnic basket, a [cooler]( is fine; maybe tuck in a compact [bar board]( and [utility knife]( for last-minute prep needs. A big consideration with picnics is handling. The ideal dishes taste good served at room temperature, won’t require tricky utensils, and aren’t too drippy or messy to eat when lounging on a blanket. One of my closest friends is vegetarian, and in the spirit of making food everyone can enjoy freely, I’m planning a meatless picnic. (Another friend is allergic to nuts, so we’re not going to have those either. I dislike having to warn guests that they can’t eat certain dishes I’ve brought—and I don’t want to worry about cross-contamination of any kind.) That still leaves plenty of delicious options. For appetizers, I’ve got [Basic Deviled Eggs]( and [Cheddar Cheese Coins]( along with slices of [Radish Baguette with Chive Butter and Salt](. I’m still deciding between main courses, including [Chickpea and Poblano Quesadillas]( which are easy to eat out of hand; [Tofu Banh Mi]( sandwiches with bright, fresh flavor; and elegant and earthy [Butternut Squash Galette with Gruyère](. For side dishes, I love brilliant orange [Skillet-Roasted Carrots]( and garlicky [Sautéed Spinach with Yogurt and Dukkah](. For dessert, [Blueberry Hand Pies]( are fun (but only if I don’t serve the galette; two pies are too much!). I also love [S’mores Brownies](. Finally, I’ll just slip in a bottle of wine or homemade [Lemonade]( and find a pretty, sunny spot by a lake or pond. Happy picnicking! The recipes in this newsletter are free for two days Want access to every recipe, review, and video? [Start your 2-week free trial](. Essential Equipment for Picnicking [Read the review of Picnic Baskets and Backpacks →]( [Buy the winner →]( [Read the review of Large Coolers →]( [Buy the winner →]( [Read the review of Bar Boards →]( [Buy the winner →]( Vegetarian Picnic Recipes [Get the recipe for Radish Baguette with Chive Butter and Salt →]( [Get the recipe for Tofu Banh Mi →]( [Get the recipe for Sautéed Spinach with Yogurt and Dukkah →]( Something to Sip On [Get the recipe for Lemonade →]( [Get the recipe for Raspberry-Basil Iced Black Tea →]( [Get the recipe for Switchel →]( [Digital All Access: 12,000+ Reliable Recipes, Free Shipping in Our Shop, Mobile App, 8,000+ Product Ratings, Cookbook Collection. Join now and save 40%. TRY IT FREE ›]( [Patting Dry Kale]( FROM OUR ONLINE COOKING SCHOOL Making Salads in Advance Bringing a salad on your picnic? 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