This Easy Oven-Roasted Garlic is destined to be love at first bite. Incredibly versatile and delicious, it will add gourmet flavor to all of your dishes.
My love for cooking all started with garlic, or, should I say, with my husband (back then, my boyfriend) inviting me into the kitchen to help him prepare dinner. Let’s rewind back to the late 90s when I was still a college student and the extent of my cooking skills went as far as warming up a can of Campbell’s in the microwave. My husband, a true gourmet who had grown up in a European household where life revolved around the pleasures of the table, could not fathom the thought of eating anything ready-made. Meals were made from scratch.
One evening, when he was trying to impress me with his good taste, he asked if I wanted to help. Me? For a moment, I hesitated, embarrassed by my culinary ignorance. Luckily, the task was easy: I only had to help him roast some garlic, which basically involved chopping off the tops of the heads so that the cloves would be exposed, brushing the garlic with olive oil, and letting the oven work its magic. The results were nothing short of extraordinary: soft, buttery garlic cloves that could be squeezed right out of their papery skins, ready to delight the taste buds with their delicately nutty aroma and subtle sweetness. We spread these morsels of goodness on slices of toasted baguette, and I swooned. From that moment on, I was smitten. Not only with garlic (and the man who taught me how to roast it), but also with the joy of cooking. Consider this a recipe for more than just roasted garlic. It’s a recipe for love.
Gourmet tweaks
This recipe only calls for brushing the garlic with olive oil, but for a richer taste, you could try using melted butter instead. Another great idea is to try flavored oils, such as chili oil, basil oil, or even truffle oil (if you’re really out to impress). I love seasoning the garlic with flaky sea salt and a mix of freshly grated peppercorns, but you can also try lemon pepper for added zest or smoked paprika for a hint of warmth. You can also chop up fresh herbs such as rosemary or thyme and scatter them over the cloves before roasting. Once the garlic has been roasted, consider drizzling it with balsamic syrup while it’s still warm.
How do I store leftovers?
With this much garlic, it’s unlikely that you’ll use it all in one go. To store it, remove the garlic from its skins and transfer the cloves to a mason jar or airtight container. Pour some olive oil over the top until the cloves are completely submerged (this will keep them from drying out) and store them in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks. You can also freeze the cloves (without the olive oil) in a Ziploc bag. Just defrost the cloves ahead of time before you incorporate them into your next recipe.
Serving suggestions
For an excellent weekend lunch, slather the warm cloves over slices of lightly toasted Artisan Bread, top with Roasted Peppers, and finish with a scattering of crumbled tangy goat cheese. Serve on a bed of fresh greens and drizzle with peppery olive oil. You can also mix the cloves into softened butter and rub that delightful mixture over a whole chicken before it goes into the oven, or use it as a topping over a fluffy Baked Potato.
Easy Oven-Roasted Garlic
Ingredients
- 5 heads of garlic
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F.
- Use a sharp knife to cut the tops off the garlic heads to expose the cloves.
- Place the garlic in a cast-iron skillet and drizzle with the olive oil, brushing it all over so the garlic is coated.
- Cover the skillet with foil and place it in the middle of the oven to roast for 30-40 minutes, or until the garlic is soft and creamy.
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