Tube Garlic: Japan's Ready-Grated Garlic Paste

In the video "Tasty Japanese School Lunch Miso Ramen Recipes To Try Now," tube garlic warms in sesame oil at the start of the soup. Tube garlic is grated garlic sold ready to use in a squeeze tube, and it's a staple in Japanese kitchens. More than 40 recipes on this site use it.

What is tube garlic?

• Grated garlic in a squeeze tube. In Japan it's sold as にんにくチューブ or おろしにんにく.
• Usually more than garlic. Many tubes also contain salt, oil, sweeteners or thickeners, so check the label.
• Refrigerate after opening. Follow the storage directions on the package.

How it's used in the videos

• 0:20 Sesame oil and tube garlic go into a frying pan and warm over low heat. The green onion and ground pork go in next. The video description lists 2.5 g for 2 adults and 1 child, which is about ½ teaspoon.
• The meat sauce spaghetti video uses it too.

Tube or fresh?

In her stamina don video (in Japanese), Aoi explains that school lunch kitchens grate fresh garlic for its aroma, but that the tube works just fine for cooking at home. In another video, she suggests grating a batch of fresh garlic and freezing it in a zip-top bag, since home cooking uses so little at a time.

Can't find it?

• Use freshly grated garlic in the same amount. 1 teaspoon of paste is about 5 g, roughly one small clove.
• Use jarred minced garlic. Check the label for added salt.
• Keep the heat low. Garlic burns quickly, whichever kind you use.

Also in this video: nira and chicken stock powder.

Related recipes

• Miso Ramen: the ramen from the video
• Stamina Don (Pork Rice Bowl)
• Mapo Tofu
• Spaghetti with Meat Sauce (Light Version)
• Bibimbap