"There are five elements: earth, air, fire, water and garlic." --Louis Diat
The forefather of modern foodies, Angelo Pellegrini, wrote "My final, considered judgment is that the hardy bulb [garlic] blesses and ennobles everything it touches--with the possible exception of ice cream and pie." Garlic also has jokingly been called "the catsup of intellectuals." Whether you think of it as culinary blessing or catsup, garlic has a multitude of uses for everyone from kitchen novices to experienced chefs.
Roasted Garlic Spread
Roasted garlic does not have the same sharpness as raw garlic. Roasted, the bulb has a mellow sweetness a little like caramelized onions, so encourage garlic-phobes to at least give this spread a try. Peel away the outer layers of a head of garlic, but leave the skin surrounding the individual cloves intact. Cut 1/4 inch off the top of the bulb to reveal the cloves. Place the garlic in a baking pan, cut side facing up, and drizzle with olive oil. Cover with a lid or aluminum foil and bake at 400 degrees F for half an hour. Let the garlic cool slightly before serving. Squeeze the garlic onto bread for a delicious appetizer.
Roasted Garlic Mashed Potatoes
While roasting your garlic as described in step one, peel, boil, drain and chop russet potatoes. Squeeze the garlic cloves into the potatoes. Use a blender to mix the garlic thoroughly into the potatoes.
Roasted Garlic Soup
Squeeze roasted garlic cloves into a pot of chicken or vegetable stock. Add vegetables according to your preferences and what you have on hand. Add milk or cream if you want a creamy soup.
Roasted Garlic and Cheese Spread
Combine roasted garlic cloves with a cream cheese or other soft cheese, such as chevre. You may want to mix in fresh herbs or sundried tomatoes. Mash the ingredients together in a bowl using a fork. Chill the spread for several hours. Serve with crudites and crackers.
Roasted Garlic Mayonnaise
Take the cloves from one entire head of roasted garlic and combine them with 1/2 cup of mayonnaise. Mix the ingredients thoroughly in a bowl. This mayonnaise will enhance the flavor of sandwiches, tuna salad, chicken salad, deviled eggs or potato salad.
Roasted Garlic Vinaigrette
A vinaigrette dressing combines oil, vinegar, honey and mustard. The addition of a few cloves of roasted garlic will give this standard salad dressing a tasty twist.
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