Why You Should Be Using More Roasted Garlic, According To Reddit
Most home chefs probably have garlic, or at least garlic powder, in their homes. This versatile seasoning can be added to almost any dish for a kick of strong, pungent flavor. And garlic not only tastes great, it also boasts a number of health benefits, including helping to lower cholesterol levels and reduce blood pressure (via Healthline). But while many people probably already know that adding garlic is a great way to amp up the flavor of their food, top chefs of Reddit have another great way to use it that will really set your meals apart.
One Reddittor made a post seeking ideas on how to improve their cooking, asking, "Chefs of reddit, what's your number one useful cooking tip?" While there were a number of useful tips in the responses, quite a few users seemed to agree with one simple trick — roasted garlic. While fresh garlic is certainly tasty, roasted garlic adds a whole separate layer of rich, complex flavor to a variety of dishes. "Roasted garlic. Garlic is cheap and you don't even need a ceramic garlic roaster," one user suggested. "Just slice off the top of the bulbs and cover with a little olive oil, salt and pepper, wrap in tin foil and place in the oven at 350 (Fahrenheit!) for 50-60 minutes. You can add it to sauces, spread on bread etc."
Some cooks suggested mixing both raw and roasted garlic
This one tip sparked a host of emphatic agreement, with many people chiming in on Reddit to say they also loved adding roasted garlic to their meals. Other users confirmed they added roasted garlic to everything from roasted chicken and potatoes, to spaghetti, onions and peppers, and just about any veggie side. While roasted garlic certainly got a lot of love in the comments, others suggested mixing both roasted and raw garlic into the dish to really take a meal to the next level. "The raw garlic will still have that sharpness and bite (when cooked), but the roasted garlic adds an entirely different dimension, a mellow, earthy flavour and the two compliment each other very well," a commenter added.
Others confirmed this was a great way to add layers of depth and complexity to the dish. "That's actually a good general rule," another user agreed. "Most any food is better with different levels of doneness." So if you have been looking for a way to kick your meals up a notch, without buying lots of expensive or fancy spices, roasted garlic is an easy way to make your dishes taste extra special with an ingredient you probably already have in your home.