3 Ways To Use Roasted Garlic

Garlic that's been roasted in the oven until it's softened has a rich, golden brown color and a sweet and complex flavor that enhances many foods. If you're unsure how to use roasted garlic in your everyday cooking, we have three simple ideas for you.

Roasted garlic and mashed potatoes are a classic pair. Roasted garlic is soft and easily incorporated into mashed potatoes; simply place a few cloves in the bowl with your potatoes, cream, and butter and mash away.

Roasted garlic is also easy to incorporate into hummus and other purées. This recipe for kale hummus calls for roasted garlic to add sweetness and help round out the bitter and acidic flavors.

Roasted garlic also adds deep, complex flavors to dips and salsas. This roasted garlic and olive salsa (which has ingredients like salty olives, spicy jalapeño chile peppers, and bright, herbal cilantro) is far from lacking when it comes to flavor.

Kristie Collado is The Daily Meal's Cook Editor. Follow her on Twitter @KColladoCook.