Roasted Garlic, with its soft, golden cloves, has a sweet, mild flavor. It's made by roasting whole garlic bulbs with basic seasonings, enhancing its natural flavors. Ideal as a bread spread, it also enriches soups, stews, sauces, pasta, and side dishes.
Begin by gently peeling off the outer layers of the garlic bulbs, exposing the individual cloves.
Slice about ¼ to ½ inch from the top of each clove. You can refer to the provided picture for guidance.
Place the trimmed garlic cloves on a sheet of aluminum foil. Season them generously with olive oil, salt, black pepper, and dried rosemary.
Wrap each garlic head in foil separately. Repeat this with any other garlic heads you have.
Arrange the wrapped garlic heads in a baking pan, ensuring they are properly spaced.
Bake in a preheated oven at 400℉ for around 30-40 minutes. During this time, the garlic will soften and turn golden, developing a caramelized flavor.
After roasting, take the garlic out of the oven and let it cool to room temperature. Carefully unwrap the foil to reveal the fragrant, roasted cloves. Your roasted garlic is now ready to be used or served as you like.
To Serve
Enjoy Roasted Garlic as a versatile flavor enhancer: ideal as a bread topping, it boosts the taste of soups, stews, and mashed potatoes, and is perfect for garlic bread, sauces, aioli, and various side dishes.
Notes
Essential Tips to Make Perfect Roasted Garlic:
Cutting the Cloves: Peel and trim ¼ to ½ inch off the top of each clove. This exposes them for uniform roasting and facilitates easy access to the soft garlic later.
Wrapping the Cloves: Place them on aluminum foil, drizzle with olive oil, and season with salt, pepper, and dried rosemary. Wrap tightly to form a pouch, sealing in the flavors.
Alternative Wrapping: Parchment paper can substitute aluminum foil. The aim is to cover the cloves, keeping them moist and preventing drying during roasting.
Seasoning: Olive oil, salt, and pepper are typical seasonings. They aid in caramelization and flavor enhancement. Feel free to experiment with various herbs and spices.
Baking Setup: Spread the wrapped cloves in a pan without overcrowding. This ensures even roasting. Space them adequately.
Roasting Time: Roast for about 30-40 minutes at 400℉ (200℃). Oven performance may vary, so adjust the time as needed. The cloves should be soft, golden, and slightly caramelized.
Testing for Doneness: Test a clove by squeezing it; it should be soft and mashable. If not, roast for a few more minutes.