Roasted Garlic

This is just a suggestion, a gentle nudge in the direction of something scrumptious.  Roasted garlic doesn't need a special occasion, any fancy equipment or ingredients, or even a recipe.  It's just garlic, only better. 

Roasted Garlic

One whole head of garlic (you can do more at a time and save them for other recipes)

A splash of olive oil

A pinch of salt

Foil

That's it!  Just peel off the loose papery skin of the garlic and cut the top off to expose the cloves.  Place it in a square of foil, drizzle it with oil and give it a sprinkle of salt if you wish.  Close up the foil to form a package and place in a hot oven for an hour or so. 
You can just put it in the oven with whatever else you're cooking and leave it until it's soft and creamy.  Or, you can preheat the oven to 350 or hotter and roast it up.  It's sort of like baking potatoes, it's hard to mess up unless you don't cook them long enough or you burn them.  There's a lot of room for variation in between these two problems.

When you roast garlic, it becomes mellow and creamy.  You can eat it plain it's so mild.  Or add it to any dish you would use raw garlic in for a less intense flavor.   It's good spread on a pizza crust, used in salad dressings, in sandwiches, or with pasta.  Our favorite way to enjoy it is to smear it on crackers with cream cheese and a dab of jelly.  The sweet, salty, garlicky, crunchy mouthful is all you could want in an appetizer or snack. 

 How do you like to eat garlic?

Comments

[sonya]

I'm so glad you liked it! Thanks for telling me :)

[Capal Hadid]

That was delicious!! I ate the whole bulb by myself with some crackers and jelly. Whew.......

[sonya]

Thanks Jehan! My mouth is watering now... guacamole!

[Jehan El-Jourbagy]

How do I love garlic? Let me count the ways . . .

Sliced and tossed with broccoli, red pepper flakes and sea salt
Sliced thinly and placed into slits in a leg of lamb
Finely chopped and added to avocado, tomatoes, green peppers, cilantro, salt, pepper, red pepper flakes and a touch of mayonnaise for delicious guac.
Powdered over salads, eggs, spaghetti . . .

And yes, soft, either baked or steamed or simmered and spread on bread with a soft cheese.

[sonya]

Thanks Capal! I'm so happy to hear from you. Let me know if you try it how it turns out!

[Capal Hadid]

I'm so glad to be subscribed to your blog now! I love how you show pictures of how it is supposed to look in each stage...that is very helpful. I will try this garlic recipe soon because I love garlic and should eat more. :) Thanks! Capal