Roasted garlic is an easy way to transform your garlic bulb into a delicious soft spread. Also to be used in sauces, spreads, or mashed into butter, this roasted garlic is the perfect way to add that extra something to your meals. This is an easy and basic skill that will make your meals taste amazing and can be stored in the freezer so that it is always on hand! Once you start roasting your garlic for recipes, you are never going to stop!
In this blog post, you will learn how to make roasted garlic.
To make this dish, take your garlic bulb and slice off the top of the garlic bulb to reveal the tops of the cloves. Place the garlic bulb onto a medium-sized sheet of aluminum foil and then pour extra virgin olive oil over top. Season to taste with salt, black pepper, rosemary, and thyme. Fold the aluminum foil over the garlic bulb so that it is fully encapsulated, place it onto a baking sheet, and then roast it in the oven. Lastly, remove from the oven, let cool slightly, and remove the aluminum foil. Because of the roasting, the garlic cloves should be easily squeezed out of the bulb with your hands. You will know when it has finished baking because the garlic bulb will be soft, look caramelized, and is easily spreadable. Use it in your preferred dish right away or freeze for future use!
Using roasted garlic in your dishes has several delicious benefits which I have noted below.
If you are interested in the Health Benefits of Garlic, follow this link to learn how good garlic can be to for your health.
Because roasted garlic is incredibly versatile it can be substituted into dishes that either use garlic powder or minced garlic cloves. It tends to have a mellower and sweeter taste than fresh garlic as fresh garlic can have a bit of a bite to it which some people can not tolerate in large portions. Finally here are a few dishes that you can put roasted garlic into!
In conclusion, this dish can enhance almost any savoury dish, adding a deep, caramelized garlic flavour without the harshness of raw garlic.
Roasted garlic can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 1 week. After roasting, place the garlic bulb into an airtight container. Lastly, cover it with olive oil. Because you covered the garlic bulb in olive oil, it will help to preserve its freshness.
Roasted garlic can be stored in the freezer for up to 3 months. Freeze the garlic by mashing it up and dividing it into small portions, like ice cube trays, for convenient use in the future.
To reheat/thaw your roasted garlic, place it onto a baking tray and put into the oven to bake on a low heat for 15-20 minutes.
It is best to make larger batches of roasted garlic at a time and to freeze it so that you always have some on hand for your many delicious recipes!
Garlic Bulb: the garlic bulb is roasted in the oven and develops a sweet, caramelized flavour that becomes soft and spreadable. This can then be spread onto your Homemade Bread!
Extra Virgin Olive Oil: the olive oil is poured over the garlic bulbs this then helps it to roast evenly and keep it from drying out.
Salt: salt enhances the flavour of garlic and herbs. But only a pinch is needed.
Black Pepper: black pepper adds a mild and earthy heat to the garlic.
Rosemary: fresh or dried rosemary can be used. This then adds a lovely fragrance.
Thyme: lastly, thyme complements the garlic with an earthy flavour.