Roasted Garlic
Raw garlic has a very sharp pungent flavor. Roasted garlic on the other hand, has a sweeter, mild nutty flavor and can be used in a host of ways. You can add it to mashed potatoes, soups, pasta sauces, purees and I've also used it in vinaigrettes. As it roasts, it becomes much softer in consistency which makes it very easy to blend with other ingredients.
Step 1: Preheat your oven to 375 degrees.
Step 2: Carefully cut the top quarter portion of the head of garlic off. Place the bulb on a sheet of aluminum foil and drizzle with olive oil and a pinch of salt. Wrap the foil to enclose the garlic bulb and place in a small baking dish. This will help keep the bulb upright.
Step 3: Roast for 60 minutes. Carefully open the foil packet and allow steam to escape. The cloves should be golden brown. At this point the individual cloves will be easy to remove from their papery skins and ready to use.