Oven Roasted Garlic

Oven Roasted Garlic removes the harsh pungent taste of the raw garlic and creates a mellow, mild flavor. The transformation of the stringent garlic cloves into a tender, butter-like paste when smashed is somewhat "magical." Through the roasting process, the sugars in the garlic will caramelize and produce a sweetened finished product that is absolutely delectable and perfect for a wide variety of recipes.

A lovely advantage of roasting garlic in your oven is that your house will fill up with the most enticing aroma and will drive you crazy (in a really good way). You will hardly be able to wait until it is out of the oven. Then you can add these beautiful little bits of flavor to Roasted Garlic Mashed Potatoes. 

Ingredients Need for Roasting Garlic in the Oven

Two simple basic ingredients are all that is needed for this roasted garlic recipe. 

• Whole Bulbs of Garlic. Choose the larger bulbs if you can find them only because they're easier to squeeze out the soft cloves. Stay away from elephant garlic which is more like a garden leek than regular garlic.
• Olive Oil. I use extra virgin olive oil beause of it's delicate flavor. And because the temperature doesn't get to hot, olive oil is perfect for this recipe.

How to Roast Garlic:

#1 - Slice off the Top portion of the Garlic Bulb

Leave the outside paper on each bulb that you plan on roasting. With a sharp knife, slice about ½ inch off the top of the bulb so that you are able to see the cut cloves inside. Place the whole bulb on a piece of foil that you'll wrap around the garlic. 

#2 - Drizzle olive oil over the top of cut garlic bulbs

Drizzle enough olive oil over the top of the cut garlic bulb so that the oil seeps down between the cloves.

#2 - Roast the garlic bulb in a loosely closed foil packet for 40-45 minutes

Preheat the oven to 400°F. Use separate foil packets for each bulb and close it up loosely so the air can circulate during the roasting process. It's really hard to over roast garlic. If you cook it for an additional 10 minutes, it caramelizes into an even sweeter softened bulb.

#3 - Open the foil packets when fully roasted and let the garlic sit for 5-10 minutes

Be careful when you first pull the foil packets from the oven, the bulbs are extremely hot. Open the packets and let them sit out on the countertop for 5-10 minutes or so until you can handle them easily.

You know the garlic is fully roasted when the cloves easily slip out of their skins. Gently squeeze the outside of the bulb until all the cloves have been removed. You will also notice that the garlic cloves when fully roasted have a golden brown caramelization to its appearance.

Alternative Garlic Roasting Method

Roast Individual Cloves. Place unpeeled cloves on a baking sheet and roast for 15 to 20 minutes. The garlic steams inside of their own skin. You won't get the normal caramelization as with the whole bulb method but this is a quicker way to roast garlic. Since this method takes less time time in the oven, you'll want to watch it more closely. Remove from the oven and let set for at least 10 minutes. Once cooled, gently slice off the tip of the clove and squeeze out the pulp. 

Is Roasted Garlic Good for you?

Garlic, in general, happens to add so much nutritional value to our lives. In addition to roasted garlic's creamy texture and its rich buttery flavor, it's full of antioxidants and loaded with vitamin C making it as healthy as it is delicious. Roasting the garlic also makes it easier to digest which regulates a healthy gut. 

How to Store Oven Roasted Garlic

• In the Refrigerator. Once you've removed the roasted cloves from bulb, they can be refrigerated for up two weeks. Place the cloves in an airtight container and cover completely with olive oil.  The oil is a natural preservative and delays oxidation and prevents spoiling of the garlic. 
• In the Freezer. Once the garlic has cooled, remove the cloves from the bulb and spread them on a baking sheet covered with parchment paper. Place in the freezer until they are completely frozen. Transfer them to a freezer container and return to the freezer. They will store for up to three months. Remove cloves as needed and let sit at room temperature until thawed. 

How to use roasted garlic

• You can literally eat them right out of their skins. They're THAT GOOD!
• Add it to these Mashed Potatoes
• Mix it with mayo and create a delicious spread for a sandwich or burger
• Mash the cloves and spread it on a baguette
• Use it in sauces and purees
• Combine it with butter to spread on Homemade Bread Rolls.
• Use it in salad dressings or vinaigrettes
• A topping for pizza
• Infuse olive oil 

Looking for a recipe to use Roasted Garlic?

Garlic Mashed Potatoes

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Oven Roasted Garlic

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Oven Roasted Garlic removes the harsh pungent taste of the raw garlic and creates a mellow, mild flavor. The transformation of the raw stringent garlic cloves into a tender, butter-like paste when smashed is somewhat "magical." When roasted, garlic is perfectly caramelized, sweet, creamy and nutty.

• Author: Kristy Murray

Ingredients

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• 1-2 Large Garlic Bulbs
• Extra Virgin Olive Oil, for drizzling

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Instructions

• Preheat the oven to 400°F.
• With a sharp knife, slice about ½ inch off the top of the bulb so that you are able to see the cut cloves inside.
• Place a whole bulb on a piece of foil large enough to wrap around the bulb.
• Drizzle enough olive oil over the top of the cut garlic bulb so that the oil seeps down between the cloves.
• Loosely close the foil up and around the bulb and place on a baking sheet.
• Roast for 40-45 minutes or until the cloves are soft.
• Remove from the oven and open the packet. Let sit for 5-10 minutes or until they are easy to handle.
• Gently squeeze the outside of the bulb until all the cloves have been removed.

Notes

• Choose larger garlic bulbs if you can find them only because they're easier to squeeze out the soft cloves.
• It's really hard to over roast garlic. If you cook it for an additional 10 minutes, it caramelizes into an even sweeter softened bulb.
• Be careful when you first pull the foil packets from the oven, the bulbs are extremely hot.
• You know the garlic is fully roasted when the cloves easily slip out of their skins.
• Garlic cloves when fully roasted have a golden brown caramelization to its appearance.
• Roasting Individual Cloves. Place unpeeled cloves on a baking sheet and roast for 15 to 20 minutes. The garlic steams inside of their own skin. Since this method takes less time time in the oven, you'll want to watch it more closely. Remove from the oven and let set for at least 10 minutes. Once cooled, gently slice off the tip of the clove and squeeze out the pulp.
• How to store in the refrigerator. Once you've removed the roasted cloves from bulb, they can be refrigerated for up two weeks. Place the cloves in an airtight container and cover completely with olive oil.  The oil is a natural preservative and delays oxidation and prevents spoiling of the garlic.
• How to store in the Freezer. Once the garlic has cooled, remove the cloves from the bulb and spread them on a baking sheet covered with parchment paper. Place in the freezer until they are completely frozen. Transfer them to a freezer container and return to the freezer. They will store for up to three months. Remove cloves as needed and let sit at room temperature until thawed.