How to Use a Garlic Terra Cotta Cooker

Using a terra cotta garlic cooker is a great way to reap the benefits of roasted garlic. Roasted garlic becomes mellower and easier to spread for use in appetizers such as brushetta or as a spread for garlic bread. Just squeeze the pulp out of the cloves and spread. Garlic is a member of the onion family and is known for its great health benefits.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• terra cotter garlic cooker
• 3 whole heads of garlic
• 2-3 teaspoons extra virgin olive oil
• salt, optional
• pepper, optional
• fresh herbs such as rosemary, thyme, or tarragon

1. Rub off several layers of the papery outer leaves of the head of garlic. Then using a sharp knife, cut off about 1/4 inch of the top of the head.

2. Then use a fork and prick the tops and sides of the head. Then using a separate bowl, pour about a teaspoon of olive oil in the dish. Place the cut end of the head of garlic down in the olive oil. Let sit for about 3-4 minutes. Do this with each head. Another option: Some people just drizzle the olive oil over the heads.

3. Place garlic heads in the garlic cooker. Sprinkle with salt, pepper, and fresh herbs such as rosemary, thyme, or tarragon if desired.

4. Place the covered baker in cold oven. Turn the oven temperature to 300 degrees. Bake for one hour or until the cloves have softened. Remove the top of the cooker, and bake for 15-20 minutes more, or until the heads of garlic are just slightly browned.

5. You don't want to overcook the garlic and burn it, as it will develop a very bitter taste. (It won't make your kitchen and house smell too good either.) If you don't have a garlic cooker, you can also use an oven proof dish, just cover tightly with aluminum foil.

6. Allow garlic to cool enough, so it can be handled without burning yourself. Squeeze contents of the cloves out to use. Roasted garlic can be stored in a tightly covered container in your refrigerator for several days.

Tips & Warnings

• Try roasted garlic in soups, on bread, in vinaigrettes, on hamburgers, and many other ways.

[sonni57]

on 3/14/2009 Good info on how to use a garlic terra cotta cooker I didn't know this.

[foodienazi]

on 8/7/2008 Lenny, you sound like you really like garlic... have you looked into six clove black garlic, it's used in korea as an aphrodisiac =)

[DUSTYMILLS]

on 6/2/2008 I've done this by just wrapping the garlic head in foil, but didn't know about cutting off the tops and dipping in oil.........am going to try this. Thanks

[lennyn]

on 5/30/2008 I've tried this! It's a wonderful addition to just about any meal...at least I think so! 5 stars!

[Fike]

on 5/30/2008 I've tried doing this in both a terra cotta cooker and in a regular glass pan, and although I think I have a pretty good palate, I've never really noted a difference in taste (help!), nor had the bitterness problem. Instead of using a fork, I cut off the entire tops of whole garlic bulbs, so that the "meat" of each clove is exposed.