Recipes: Fun with Garlic Spreads

Garlic contains more than 100 biologically useful chemicals, which are a boon for good health, and I am a great garlic eater. I love to include it in most of my daily dishes and eat it raw too. It sure is my all time favorite flavor. In India, no dish is complete without garlic and we love to use it in our chutneys and pickles.

Breads undergo a magical transformation when spread with exotic garlic spread in more than one variety. I have been using hem for years now and each time they add new flour to my daily breakfast. I love the aroma that rises from the hot toast with garlic spread.

1. Garlic Thyme spread

Ingredients

Five large garlic bulbs

3 tbsp olive oil

1/2 tsp chopped fresh thyme

Salt and pepper to taste

Method

Chop the ends of the garlic and place them on an aluminum foil.

Drizzle with olive oil and fold the foil to cover the garlic.

Bake them at 350 degrees for 45minutes, or until garlic is tender when tested with a fork.

Squeeze pulp from garlic into a small bowl and stir in 2 Tbsp. olive oil, 1/2 tsp. chopped fresh thyme, and salt and pepper to taste.

Serve as spread on toasted bread slices or use them as spread in the sandwiches.

2. Garlic Cilantro Spread

Two pods of garlic - minced
½ cup Salted Butter
2Tbsp Fresh green chopped coriander

Method:

Melt the butter in a saucepan and fry the minced garlic pods along with the coriander on very low heat until the garlic is soft and golden.

Remove from heat and pour in a glass bowl.

You can chop the garlic very fine and add to the butter without frying also along with the coriander to give it a chunky garlic taste.

It goes very well with all kind of sandwiches and as a simple spread on a crisp toast.

It tastes excellent topped up with grated cheese.

3. Spicy Garlic Spread

Two medium size garlic bulbs

1/2 tbsp olive oil

1 tsp red chili flakes (to taste)
One tsp dried basil leaves

Salt (to taste)

Freshly ground pepper

Method:

Cut just a little from the top of the garlic bulb and rub the garlic well with olive oil.

Place it on an aluminum foil and seal it.

Keep it inside the over and bake it for about 35 -40 minutes at 350F degrees or until soft.

Remove from heat, open the foil. Let it cool down.

Mash the garlic, add salt, pepper, chili flakes, basil and mix well.

This tastes awesome as a spread and the chili makes it spicier and gives it a lift.

Eat garlic not just for health benefits but also for its magical taste. Nothing comes close to the flavor and taste of fresh garlic.