Saturday, April 16, 2011

The (Garlic) Lovers Test


Roasted garlic.  It's the ultimate appetizer.

Lucky for me, Chris loves garlic too.  To me, garlic breath just means the end of a fabulous meal.  Anyone who loves garlic needs to try roasting it.  And anyone who loves someone who loves garlic should kiss them after eating it!

Roasting garlic is SO SIMPLE.  I'm going to introduce you to something I discovered on the whim.  A PERFECT COMBO.  Enter hummus stage left.



Garlic
Olive oil
Dried basil
Hummus
Crackers
Salt and Pepper

Here you go.


First, I cut off the top.  Just a little bit.


I'm going for two flat tops because...


You're gonna slice it again.  You want both halves to lay flat.  They don't need to look perfect.  It's what the pros call "rustic" (i.e. similar to calling jeans with holes in them stylish, only in the food world).


Place them in a baking dish.


Take a closer look before the magic happens.


Drizzle olive oil.  Sprinkle dried basil, salt and pepper.


Roast at 400 degrees for 30-40 minutes, until browned lightly.  If you poke them with a fork they should go through with ease.


Scoop the clove halves out with a butter knife or a spoon.  Serve with hummus.


Once again, who needs dinner when your appetizer's this good?!

7 comments:

  1. Brigit and I took advantage of the weather to sit by the pool with some good books, a head of romaine and a tub of very garlicky hummus. (Best wraps ever.) There was peace; there was joy; there was some seriously swarthy breath, but oh yes, huzzah for the "stinking rose!"

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  2. I left a comment, but it got lost? Well, here's a second attempt: Garlic is a staple in our kitchen. It's like an appetite aphrodisiac to my husband, when I'm cooking. I forget about roasting garlic as appetizers. Great idea, thanks for the inspiration!

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  3. what a great idea to cut the bulb in half! more surface area for the olive oil to absorb. We are garlic lovers too.

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  4. We had roasted garlic on some sort of cheese (Brie?) at a place called The Stinking Rose in SF--everything they make is abotu Garlic. It's divine.

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  5. Never understood about paying extra for jeans with holes in them...but paying extra for garlic...ahhh...now "that" I can understand! dad

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  6. Noelle,
    Yesterday at breakfast you mentioned a food blog and I was hooked! I came, I read, and I bookmarked you! I can say I have a famous "food-blogging" friend now! So excited to watch!
    xo, Andrea

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  7. seriously. this was so good and easy. i ate the whole garlic by myself and wanted about 4 more... thanks for the delicious and easy recipe.

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