Garlic is commonly used in foods of all varieties. But did you know that roasted garlic can not only taste great but also fit into a variety of recipes that you use on a daily basis? When garlic is roasted, it is transformed into an earthy, buttery treat that can really amplify any dish.
There are some people out there that have been roasting garlic for a long time and they are wondering what the big deal is. But there are several reasons why you should be roasting garlic from now on, making it the only way that you handle this spice.
Why You Should Roast Garlic
First and foremost, the roasting of the garlic is meant to concentrate the sugars. When this happens, it can transform the garlic into a spreadable, caramelized, buttery texture. This brings out the sweeter aspects of the garlic flavor.
Not only that, roasting the garlic can take away its pungency, that sharp and biting flavor that raw garlic can have sometimes. That makes it easier to consume, more enjoyable, and truly enhances the meal from start to finish.
It can also enhance the dish that you are using it in. Garlic has a strong, one-note flavor to it that can be overwhelming.
When it is roasted, there is a sweetness and greater depth infused into the dish. This can make things such as sauces, dressings, marinades, mashes, stews, and soups have a greater flavor profile than they would have before.
Roasted garlic is also a great way to preserve it. That means getting longer usage out of garlic than you would unroasted.
That roasted garlic smell also brings a warmth, a certain fragrance to a room that can make you think of a warm, filling meal instead of that pungent smell that we all tend to associate with garlic.
Lastly, it is easier for most people to digest. Too much garlic in a meal can have an upsetting effect on one’s digestion. But when it has been roasted, your body is able to process it more efficiently making for a more enjoyable time.
Health Benefits of Garlic
Garlic is a delicious addition to just about any meal, but what you might not have known is that it can have a lot of positive health benefits, too. That’s not to say that you have to eat raw garlic cloves, but infusing garlic into meals on a semi-regular basis can be beneficial.
Firstly, it helps to reduce cholesterol. Cholesterol can lead to issues with your heart and blood pressure over time. Likewise, garlic helps to prevent heart disease. Keeping your heart healthy is important and garlic works to benefit the most important organ in your body.
Garlic also helps to lower your blood pressure. If you have been experiencing higher blood pressure, eating garlic on a regular basis can help to combat those higher scores. Of course, lifestyle changes will need to be made otherwise, but garlic can help.
Garlic also helps to prevent dementia. As we age, our minds begin to lose their elasticity and it can have a drastic impact on our way of living. Taking the steps needed to prevent dementia is important and garlic is a contributor to that.
Another thing that garlic does is it can help to keep heavy metals from getting into your body. Lots of the foods that we eat are rife with iron, zinc, and other metals that we need. But there are plenty of metals that will not benefit our body and garlic helps to keep those at bay.
Lastly, garlic can actually help strengthen your joints and bones. We give that credit to milk, but eating garlic regularly can help contribute to a stronger frame, too.
Simply put, garlic has many health benefits that you could be taken advantage of. Try roasting some garlic in your next meal and you can begin to enjoy the benefits of garlic and the wonderful taste that it brings.
Roasting Whole Heads of Garlic
If you have purchased heads of garlic for use on a regular basis, try to roast them before you prepare them to be added to your meal. The process is simple, too. Make sure to preheat your oven to 400 degrees and cut off the top half inch of the tips; this will leave the cloves exposed.
Place them in a skillet that is well-oiled and then drizzle oil over the top (you can also add salt and pepper if you’d like). Make sure to cover the entire thing with foil tightly and bake it for around 35 or 40 minutes.
Finally, uncover them and continue roasting them for 10 to 20 minutes more. When they’re done, you will have delicious roasted garlic to use in a wide array of meals all throughout the day.
I have two Associate’s degrees, one in Medical Assisting and the other in Computer Technician, and I am roughly five classes from a bachelor’s degree. Though I never ended up working in the medical field, I have five and a half years of experience in IT. I recently became a stay-at-home mom to my two young boys, and I’m so excited to start this adventure with them! In my spare time, I love to bake and read pretty much anything I can get my hands on.