How to Roast Garlic

Garlic has been known for its innumerable health benefits since ages. Native to the central zone of Asia, the spice has now become an essential ingredient in the culinary culture of a number of countries all over the world. Whether it is used for preparing your favorite stew or baking a casserole dish, the addition of garlic can impart a unique flavor to almost any and every recipe. On top of that, the health benefits and therapeutic effects of garlic are many. It lowers cholesterol, reduces the risk of heart diseases, lowers blood pressure and fights off common cold. Coming down to its culinary uses, garlic is used to add special flavor in many food items and dishes. The spice tastes all the more fabulous when it is roasted and can be eaten with a number of other dishes. The best part is that it can be roasted easily at home and then used to dress your favorite salad or add flavor to any recipe. Want to know the mantra for roasting garlic? If yes, then go through the following tips and make sure to use them to roast garlic.

Roasted Garlic Recipe

Ingredients

1 Garlic Head
1 tbsp Balsamic Vinegar
1 tbsp Olive Oil
Foil Paper
Freshly Cracked Pepper (acc. to taste)
Kosher Salt (acc. to taste)

Instructions

While purchasing the garlic for roasting, make sure that its heads are firm, with thin papery skin and plump cloves. Also make sure that there are no soft spots or sprouts over them.
You can roast garlic by using any of the following - microwave, stove, grill, oven or other specialized electrical appliances.
Take a garlic head and make sure it is clean. Peel off the papery layer and trim the ends with a knife. At the same time, pre-heat your microwave grill at medium-high heat.
Alternately, you can cut the garlic to about ½ inch from the top of the head, exposing the clove.
Place the garlic head on a sheet of foil paper and sprinkle some amount of olive oil and some balsamic vinegar on it. Season it with some salt and freshly ground pepper.
Make sure you double wrap the garlic in the foil paper, so that it doesn’t burn while it is being roasted. It should have the aroma of roasted garlic and not one of burnt garlic.
Now, reduce the heat in the microwave to medium and place the foil packet that has the garlic, inside the microwave. Place it in the indirect heat for 40-45 minutes and roast.
For better results, you can place the garlic in a microwave safe-dish, before placing it inside the microwave.
Allow the garlic to cool down and take it out after 45 minutes. It should have a pulpy texture and should be soft enough to mash. You may separate the cloves and then mash. Alternately, you can also use them as whole pieces. Use it to dress salads or simply spread over bread with some cheese.

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