How to Make Roasted Garlic and Herb Vinegar

Herb vinegar is delicious on salads and marinades, and the addition of roasted garlic makes it even better. In a decorative bottle, this herb vinegar makes an excellent gift perfect for holidays or parties. Read on to learn how to make roasted garlic and herb vinegar.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Clear bottle with cork
• White vinegar, red vinegar or apple cider vinegar
• Fresh herbs such as rosemary and basil
• 1 bay leaf
• 1/2 tsp. peppercorns
• Pinch of sea salt
• Two roasted garlic cloves (See section one)
• Sauce pan
• Small funnel
• Decorative ribbon (optional)

How to Roast Garlic

1. Remove most of the thin paper skins from the outside of the garlic. You do not have to remove all of them.

2. Cut off 1/4 inch of the top of the entire head of garlic, revealing the tops of the cloves.

3. Place the garlic on a piece of aluminum foil and drizzle the olive oil over the top of the garlic. Top with herbs and spices.

4. Wrap the garlic in the aluminum foil and bake in the oven at 350 degrees for 45 minutes. When cooled, remove the cloves from the garlic skins whole and set aside for the herb vinegar. The cloves should pop out easily when squeezed from the bottom.

Herb Vinegar

5. In the sauce pan, bring the vinegar to a boiling point. Use as much vinegar as will fit to an inch or so below the top of the bottle. Allow to cool.

6. While the vinegar is cooling, add dry ingredients into the bottle. Start by adding two roasted garlic cloves.

7. Add fresh rosemary in whole stems for a decorative look. Add two or three stems. Fresh basil can be added in whole leaves or pieces. If you are able to find the flowering part of the basil, it is a very pretty addition to your decorative bottle and adds flavor.

8. Add one bay leaf. Add a pinch of sea salt and 1/4 tsp. of black or multicolored peppercorns.

9. Add the vinegar using the funnel. Insert the cork. Let the vinegar sit for a week or two to enhance the flavors. Due to the roasted garlic, it is best to refrigerate your vinegar.

Tips & Warnings

• If the herb vinegar is a gift, try tying a colored ribbon around the neck of the bottle.