Leanna Romano's Roasted Garlic Recipe

Leanna Romano's Roasted Garlic Recipe is so good, so healthy, and so popular among my collection of Italian appetizer recipes! Image: Roasted Garlic It is right up there with our Italian Tomato-Avocado Bruschetta Recipe. These two go hand in hand (like Italians and wine) and both these appetizers are absolutely delightful when spread on a fresh baguette.

People may shy away from roasted garlic recipes as they do other types of recipes using garlic. Concerned about your breath? Don't be. It is amazing, roasting the garlic seems to quell a lot of the odor that concerns some people. In other words, you can eat a lot of this without smelling like you just ate raw fresh garlic. I am Italian and I eat tons of garlic and it is so healthy for you (see nutritional facts below) that I think it keeps your breath quite fresh. Honest! Try this recipe, it is so simple to make and I guarantee unless you really hate garlic, you will die for this Italian appetizer.

Note: Fresh Italian parsley is a natural breath freshener. Eat a sprig if you are concerned.

Michele Romano Recipes

Roasted Garlic Recipe

Ingredients:

8 whole heads of organic garlic
2 tbsp olive oil
1 bottle or can, dark or amber beer. (Approx. 1 - 1/4 cups) (Chicken or vegetable broth can be substituted)
Salt and pepper lightly
1-1/2 cups fresh grated cheese such as: (Gorgonzola, Provolone, Gouda, Mozzarella)

What I like to use is an Italian four cheese blend, it is quick and easy as it is already grated and a very tasty combination. (Saputo has a nice one, sold in most major supermarkets.)

Preparation:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees
Remove loose skins from garlic bulbs.
Using a large knife, slice off just the tips at the top of the whole bulb.
Place the sliced side up (bottoms of garlic down) in a baking dish.
Brush olive oil a on each head of garlic and any remaining pour in bottom of pan.
Pour in bottle of ale in baking pan.
Cover and bake for 1 hour. (Garlic should be soft and squeeze out of cloves.)
Sprinkle cheese all over top of garlic and put back in oven uncovered until cheese is well melted.
Squeeze and spread garlic cloves and cheese onto fresh sliced baguettes or an Italian crusty bread.

Prep time: 15 min.
Cook time: 75 min.
Serves: 8
Live Long and Mangia!

Health Benefits: Garlic lowers cholesterol levels and blood sugar which helps prevent heart attack and stroke. When crushed, raw cloves releases allicin, which has been shown to be a more potent antibiotic than penicillin and tetracycline.

For more on eating healthy, I find The Health Benefits Times very informative.

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