Ajos Confitados Recipe: Soft Slow Cooked Garlic in Olive Oil 2026

Ajos confitados are plump garlic cloves gently poached in olive oil with rosemary and black peppercorns until they turn soft, mellow and almost buttery. The slow, low heat tames the sharp bite of raw garlic and leaves you with something sweet, tender and incredibly versatile.

This is one of those simple preparations that quietly earns its place in the kitchen. The confit garlic cloves can be mashed into mayonnaise, folded into sauces, stirred through stews and braises, or spread straight onto toasted bread for an instant tapa.

You only need four ingredients and about fifty minutes, most of which is hands-off time. The olive oil does double duty too: once the garlic is gone, the golden, garlicky oil is a treasure for dressings, sautés and drizzles.

Ingredients for Ajos Confitados

This makes about 4 servings of confit garlic, plus plenty of flavorful garlic oil.

• 3 heads of garlic
• 200 g olive oil
• 2 sprigs of rosemary
• 1 teaspoon black peppercorns

How to Make Ajos Confitados Step by Step

1. Peel the garlic cloves

The first thing we are going to do is peel the garlic cloves from 3 heads of garlic. Take your time and remove all the papery skins so the cloves are completely clean and ready to be gently cooked.

2. Combine everything in a pot

Place the garlic cloves in a pot with 200 g of olive oil, 2 sprigs of rosemary and 1 teaspoon of black peppercorns. Everything goes in at once, so there is no need to brown or sauté anything beforehand.

3. Heat gently and control the temperature

Place the pot over medium-low heat and, using a kitchen thermometer, watch for the temperature to reach between 60 and 70 ºC (140-158 ºF). Once it hits that range, lower the heat to low and keep cooking for 40 minutes. If you do not have a kitchen thermometer, keep the heat at medium-low until you see tiny bubbles starting to rise in the oil, then reduce to low and cook for the full 40 minutes.

4. Confit the garlic for 40 minutes

After 40 minutes, the confit garlic is ready. The cloves should be completely tender and soft, with a delicate, mellow flavor. Turn off the heat and let them cool down in the pot itself so they keep absorbing the aromas of the oil and rosemary.

5. Store covered in oil

Once the garlic has cooled, transfer the cloves to a glass jar, preferably an airtight one, making sure they are completely covered with the confit oil. Keep the jar in the fridge and use the garlic as needed.

Tips for the Best Ajos Confitados

Keep the temperature steady

The key to confit garlic is gentle, steady heat between 60 and 70 ºC (140-158 ºF) for 40 minutes. A kitchen thermometer takes the guesswork out of it, but if you do not have one, watch for the first tiny bubbles in the oil, then drop the heat to low and start counting the cooking time.

Cool in the oil

Let the garlic cool completely in the pot rather than draining it right away. The cloves keep softening and soaking up the rosemary and peppercorn notes as the oil cools, which makes them even more tender and flavorful.

Use the garlic and the oil

These confit garlic cloves are wonderful mashed into cold sauces like mayonnaise, added to sofritos, soups, stews and braises, or spread on toast as a base for tapas. The leftover oil is just as valuable: use it for dressings, drizzling or sautéing to add a subtle garlic aroma to any dish.

30 Favorite Recipes I Keep Coming Back To at Home

Maybe you're wired the same way I am: your kitchen rotation is a blend of cozy standbys, well-loved dishes from around the globe, and sweets that make a crowd happy.

Some nights I want something luxurious, and that's when I reach for this La Viña Molten Cheesecake recipe, this refined Original French Crème Brûlée recipe, or a deeply rich Chocolate Mousse Cake recipe. And on days when only fruit-forward comfort will do, this timeless French Tarte Tatin recipe is my reliable pick.

For quick morning meals and lighter plates, I regularly whip up these airy Oatmeal and Banana Pancakes recipe, a hearty Stuffed Sweet Potato recipe, or these bright Eggs Stuffed with Avocado and Salmon recipe. And whenever my pantry needs a gluten-free basic, this no-fuss Gluten-Free Rice Flour recipe does the trick.

On evenings built around tapas and Mediterranean tastes, I cycle through this punchy Basque Tuna with Tomato recipe, golden Patatas Bravas Air Fryer recipe, silky Tirokafteri Greek Dip Sauce recipe, and a cool Burrata Salad with Tomato and Pesto recipe. This elegant Italian Vitello Tonnato recipe also comes out whenever the occasion calls for a little extra polish.

For stick-to-your-ribs midday meals and comforting suppers, my go-tos are this warming Meatballs in Spanish Sauce recipe, time-honored Meatballs in Almond Sauce recipe, deeply savory Italian Bolognese Sauce recipe, and velvety Chicken Croquettes in Thermomix recipe. When I'm after something even more substantial, I turn to this oven-baked Greek Pastitsio Pie recipe, homey Potatoes and Squid Stew recipe, or the supremely cozy French Boeuf Bourguignon recipe.

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And when I'm hosting and mixing drinks to go with a full spread, dinner often gets paired with this cool Original Cuban Mojito recipe, a strong Long Island Iced Tea recipe, or a pitcher of this sweet Bleeding Spanish Sangria recipe. To bring it all together, I like setting out this zesty French Remoulade Sauce recipe alongside, or capping the meal with this dramatic Mediterranean Black Rice with Squid recipe.

Even More Tasty Recipes the Whole Family Will Enjoy

After countless rounds of testing and tweaking in my own kitchen, I've come to believe the finest dishes are built on straightforward steps, dependable methods, and serious flavor.

The recipes gathered here are the ones I genuinely cook on repeat—whether it's a fast solo meal or something festive for the people I love.

On the sweet side, the lush, velvety Orange Chocolate Mousse Recipe is my pick when I want a dessert that feels fancy yet comes together without fuss. Another treat I adore is the caramelized Trdelnik Slavic Pastry Recipe, modeled on the celebrated Central European chimney cake. If baking is your thing, knowing how to make syrup for better dessert texture helps a lot, and my Inverted Sugar Recipe walks through exactly how I do it at home.

When light and easy is what I'm after, I lean on the timeless Italian Caprese Salad Recipe or a flawlessly done Simple Poached Egg Recipe. For more filling comfort fare, I frequently suggest the crowd-pleasing Meatball Sandwich Recipe, the luscious Russian Stroganoff Beef Recipe, and the speedy weeknight go-to One Pot Pasta Recipe.

Sharing dishes from across the globe is another joy of mine, among them the genuine Sorropotún de Bonito Fish Stew Recipe, crispy Chilean Pumpkin Sopaipillas Recipe, and the traditional Spanish Cochifrito Segovian Fried Pig Recipe.

Air fryer cooking is yet another category I turn to often, since it delivers speed without sacrificing texture. The ones I make most include Air Fryer Pork Ribs Recipe, Air Fryer Chicken Thighs Recipe, Air Fryer Sweet Potatoes Recipe, Air Fryer Baked Potatoes Recipe, Air Fryer Peppers Recipe, Air Fryer Mixed Sandwich Recipe, Air Fryer Toasted Bread Recipe, and Air Fryer Hard-Boiled Eggs Recipe.

And for those steering clear of wheat, my cozy Gluten-Free Lasagna Recipe shows that a classic baked pasta can still be indulgent, cheesy, and deeply comforting without any gluten.

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