Roasted Garlic
As an Italian there is one ingredient that is used in almost all of my meals….. GARLC!! If the recipe calls for 1 clove – I add 2.. I just love the smell of garlic cooking and the flavors really enhance any recipe!
When I find big (elephant) heads of garlic (mostly in the summer months) I buy them in bulk and roast. I normally roast 3 or 4 at a time and use them all week long. There is one that I keep just for me to pick into and enjoy all by myself!
Directions
The process to roast garlic is very simple! With a sharp chefs knife cut off the top of your head of garlic. Take foil large enough to cover the garlic. If you are to roast multiples then you should have a separate foil for each head of garlic. Preheat your oven to 350 degrees.
Next set your garlic head the piece of foil and drizzle olive oil. Add about 1/2 teaspoon of sea salt and wrap the foil tight around the garlic. Place on a baking sheet and bake for 1 hour. If you want the garlic to have a little firmness then take out at 45 minutes.
You can take it out and use it right away on your favorite cracker!
You can use roasted garlic many ways and I will share with you some of my favorite recipes! They are all quick and easy..
As an Appetizer
- Spread it on a crostini or with a eggplant bruschetta
- Add it to your antipasto salad in large chunks
- Puree in dips (hummus, Baba Ganoush Dip)
Roasted garlic makes a great spread for appetizers. You can spread it on bruschetta, crostini, toasted pita wedges and more. For a more dramatic effect serve a roasted garlic platter. Arrange the roasted garlic heads on a tray and surround with breads, cheeses such as melted Brie or Camembert, sharp cheddar, goat or feta, sliced tomatoes, chopped olives, roasted red peppers, and slices of ripe apples and pears. Let your guests assemble their own appetizers.
Roasted garlic has a mellow sweetness to it almost like caramelized onions. Raw garlic has a sharper flavor. Roasted garlic tastes great pureed into dips, vinaigrette’s, dressings and sauces. Simple squeeze the pungent golden brown paste into your recipe and blend it up. Because it’s not raw it will add the wonderful flavor of garlic without the sharpness or the aftertaste that bothers some people.
Instead of your typical pizza sauce, spread roasted garlic over your pizza crust and then add your toppings. You could also squeeze the heads on top of the pizza as a topping. It makes a great garlic butter for garlic your
favorite crusty bread, or blended together with olive oil and other dried herbs for a bread dipping oil. YUM!You can mix up the garlic cloves with other herbs, Then roast, grill or sear your favorite proteins as usual.
Roasting garlic will help boost intensity and a depth of flavor into your dishes that will make any meal more amazing.
Garlic also has so many health benefits such as lowering cholesterol, preventing cancers, and much more, it’s also a great way to include more garlic into your healthy lifestyle.
Other ways to enjoy Garlic
- Pizza toppings
- Add to your favorite pasta sauce
- Combine in your mashed potatoes or smashed cauliflower
- Add chunks of roasted garlic to your salad
- Infused oil
- Enjoy by itself. Super Yummy!
Some of my favorites!
Roasted Garlic Spread
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
- Peel away the outer layers of a head of garlic, but leave the skin intact. Cut 1/4 inch off the top of the bulb to reveal the cloves. Place the garlic in a baking pan, cut side facing up, and drizzle with olive oil.
- Wrap well with aluminum foil and bake for 40 minutes. Let the garlic cool slightly before serving. Squeeze the garlic onto bread for a delicious appetizer.
Roasted Garlic Mashed Potatoes
While roasting your garlic; peel, boil, drain and chop russet potatoes. Squeeze the garlic cloves into the potatoes. Use a blender to mix the garlic thoroughly into the potatoes.
Roasted Garlic and Cheese Dip
Combine roasted garlic cloves with a cream cheese or other soft cheese.. You may want to mix in fresh herbs or sundried tomatoes. Mash the ingredients together in a bowl using a fork. Chill the spread for several hours.
Roasted Garlic Mayonnaise
- Take the cloves from one full head of roasted garlic and combine them with 1/2 cup of your favorite mayonnaise (or try this Paleo Mayonnaise. Mix the ingredients thoroughly in a bowl. This mayonnaise will enhance the flavor of tuna salad, chicken salad, deviled eggs, turkey and avocado lettuce wraps or potato salad.
Roasted Garlic Vinaigrette
- For this family favorite whisk olive oil, vinegar, honey, lemon zest, dijon mustard and dried herbs in a bowl.
- The addition of a few cloves of roasted garlic will make this vinaigrette extra yummy!