Herb-Roasted Garlic

By Chef Meg Galvin, Healthy Cooking Expert at

SparkPeople.com

Garlic is good for more than keeping away vampires. It's also quite good for you and full of flavor. Roasting garlic mellows its flavor and gives it a creamy texture. This recipe is a staple in my house. I throw a couple of heads in the oven when I'm cooking other dishes, and I use it on bread, in soups and in stews. You'll love this recipe--it's low in fat and free of salt!

Minutes to Prepare: 5
Minutes to Cook: 30
Number of Servings: 6

Ingredients
2 heads garlic
2 teaspoons olive oil
1 teaspoon thyme, dried
1/2 teaspoon sage, dried
1/4 teaspoon rosemary, dried and chopped
1/4 teaspoon black pepper


Directions
Preheat the oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit. Slice the tops off two heads of garlic, exposing the tips of the cloves. Place each bulb on a square of aluminum foil. Use a butter knife to gently loosen the cloves within the head, being careful not to completely separate them.

Combine all remaining ingredients and pour over both heads of garlic. Wrap up each foil packet, place on a sheet tray and roast for 30 minutes, or until cloves are lightly browned and soft.

Remove from oven to slightly cool. Squeeze each clove to remove it from the papery skin.

Store in a sealed container in the refrigerator for up to 7 days.

Makes 6 servings, two teaspoons per serving.


Related links:
Baked Chicken with Garlic and Sun-Dried Tomatoes
Garlic: The Big Flavor with Benefits
Ginger-Garlic Sauce

SparkPeople Healthy Cooking Expert Meg Galvin is a World Master Chef, culinary instructor, and the author of " The SparkPeople Cookbook: Love Your Food, Lose the Weight." A farmer's daughter and marathon runner, she lives in northern Kentucky with her husband and three teenage sons.