Garlic love
As winter cold has recently been sticking to me like bee to honey, I like to pay a tribute to one of the recent favourite ingredients. Garlic. Roasted garlic to be precise.
It may seem that with Valentine’s day around the corner, when hearts are popping around out of places they should never go to, garlic is not the romantic ingredient springing to mind at first, but allow me to persuade you otherwise.
Yes, raw garlic is harsh and is as suitable for lovers feast as rage, but after sometime spend in a warm oven, it becomes sweet and soft, without a trace of the severe flavour and scent, and quite a delightful treat indeed.
It’s good enough to be eaten straight out of the oven, crushed on bread with some salt, pepper and olive oil, and it is divine (you can also sprinkle cheese, keep a few minutes under grill and you’ll have a great appetizer), but it doesn’t end there, the use of roasted garlic is literally limitless, below are but a few humble examples of it:
- Add it to dips like hummus or baba ghanoush
- Mix in your mashed potatoes
- Add to soups
- Make roasted garlic vinaigrette (with red wine/balsamic vinegar and extra virgin olive oil)
- Make garlic butter
- Add to pasta sauces
- Add to pizza
- Serve with grilled veggies
- Serve with meat
It will make everything taste better, it is cheap and easy, indeed, no reasons at all not to make it. Here’s the recipe:
- 1-10 garlic bulbs (as much as you like)
- Olive oil
- Salt
- Freshly grounded pepper
- Thyme (optional)
- Rosemary (optional)
- Heat the oven to 180C.
- Slice the top of garlic bulb and peel the outer layer.
- Rub with oil and drizzle some extra on cut side. Season with salt, pepper, scatter herbs on top and bake for 35-50 minutes, depending how strong your oven is it might take more or less time, hence check after half an hour.
- Garlic is roasted when it is completely soft when pricked with a fork. If the top of the bulbs are browning too quickly you can cover them with aluminium foil.
- Once garlic is roasted and has cooled down, store it in a airtight container in a fridge.
Marvelous! I love garlic and cook with it every day.
Cheers,
Rosa
I love roasted garlic and your suggestions for how to use it are all divine!
No way–garlic is the MOST romantic ingredient! Eat garlic together, reek of garlic together, eat some more garlic together…
We haven’t roasted garlic in far too long–thanks for the reminder!
Roasting garlic transforms it from something harsh to a sweet and soft morsel of deliciousness. Love combining it in so many dishes.
Thanks for suggesting rosemary and thyme to enhance the flavor. Roasted garlic is a favorite — can’t wait to try it “spiced up.” Happy Valentine’s Day!
Just posted an article about garlic too, I really like your suggestions. Not only it’s delicious but so healthy too.