Cookbook author Barbara Kafka says garlic “is a godsend” for those watching diets. A salad dressing that has roasted garlic blended into it coats greens much the same way creamy, fattier dressings do. Miss Kafka also suggests using roasted garlic to finish soups and sauces,or even spooning it over baked potatoes instead of butter.
Roasting garlic is simple. Start with heads of garlic that have all the cloves intact and are tightly wrapped in the papery skin. Feel the weight of the head of garlic; the heavier the better, as this indicates an abundance of the flavor-packed essential oils.
To roast the garlic, remove as much of the papery outer layer as possible without separating the cloves. Next, slice about ½ inch off the top of the head, exposing the tops of the individual cloves.
Place the garlic on a square of foil and sprinkle with a tablespoon of water. Loosely wrap the garlic in the foil, then pinch the edges together. Roast in a 400-degree oven for 45 minutes. Unwrap and let the garlic cool slightly before squeezing the now-pulpy cloves from the casings.
Roasted garlic can be refrigerated, tightly wrapped, for 4 to 5 days. Here are some other ways to use roasted garlic.
Use this recipe for creamy roasted garlic dressing, which is similar to a Caesar salad dressing but with about a quarter of the fat. Toss it with some chopped hearts of romaine lettuce and top with whole-grain croutons. The dressing can be made up to two days in advance and stored, covered, in the refrigerator.
Creamy roasted garlic dressing
2 large heads garlic, roasted and cooled
½ cup nonfat plain yogurt
1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
2 tablespoons lemon juice
1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
3 anchovy fillets, rinsed
Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
In a blender or food processor combine the roasted garlic pulp, yogurt, cheese, oil, lemon juice, mustard and anchovies. Process until smooth. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Makes about 1 cup.
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Please read our comment policy before commenting.