Roasted Whole Garlic Bulb (Print version)

Transform garlic cloves into sweet, soft bulbs perfect for spreading or adding depth to dishes.

# What you'll need:

→ Produce

01 - 1 whole garlic bulb

→ Pantry

02 - 1 to 2 teaspoons olive oil
03 - Pinch of salt

→ Optional

04 - Freshly ground black pepper
05 - Fresh herbs (thyme or rosemary sprigs)

# How to make it:

01 - Preheat the oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit.
02 - Remove any loose outer layers of skin from the garlic bulb, keeping the cloves intact.
03 - Slice off the top quarter inch of the garlic bulb to reveal the tops of all cloves.
04 - Place the bulb on foil or in a small baking dish. Drizzle olive oil evenly over exposed cloves, sprinkle with salt, and add black pepper and herbs if desired.
05 - Wrap tightly in foil or cover dish and roast for 35 to 40 minutes until cloves are soft and golden brown.
06 - Allow garlic to cool slightly, then squeeze the soft cloves from their skins. Serve warm or at room temperature.

# Expert suggestions:

01 -
  • Transforms pungent raw garlic into something so sweet and creamy you'll want to spread it on everything.
  • Takes almost no effort—mostly just oven time while you do something else.
  • Once you taste it, you'll realize it's been hiding in plain sight as one of the easiest ways to build flavor depth.
02 -
  • Don't skip the foil wrapping—unwrapped garlic can dry out or brown unevenly, and you'll lose that silky texture you're after.
  • The exact roasting time depends on your oven and how large the bulb is, so check for softness rather than just watching the clock.
  • Squeezed cloves separate easily from their thin skins once they're roasted; if a clove feels firm, it needs more time in the oven.
03 -
  • If you're making this for a crowd, multiple bulbs can roast together on the same tray—just make sure they're not touching and allow a few extra minutes since they'll be packed more closely.
  • The absolute secret to perfectly creamy roasted garlic is making sure the foil seal is tight enough that steam stays trapped inside, cooking the cloves gently rather than letting them dry at the edges.

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