AIR FRYER ROASTED GARLIC

This air fryer roasted garlic is a game-changer for anyone who loves garlic. It’s a quick, easy way to get rich, caramelized, and flavorful roasted garlic without the long wait of traditional oven roasting. Perfectly buttery and savory, it elevates dishes like mashed potatoes, pasta, or even as a spread on fresh bread. And the best part? You can have it ready in less than 30 minutes!

Key Reasons This Recipe Stands Out:

Time-Saving: Air-fried roasted garlic is ready in about half the time it would take in an oven, meaning more flavor in less time.
Energy-Efficient: Since you’re using the air fryer, your kitchen stays cooler compared to using a traditional oven.
Scalable Recipe: Need more garlic? No problem. You can fit multiple heads of garlic in the air fryer basket without altering the cooking process.

Ingredients Breakdown

Whole Garlic Bulb: Use any variety of garlic, though fresher, large bulbs work best. The key is exposing the cloves while keeping the bulb intact for roasting.
Extra Virgin Olive Oil: This helps caramelize the garlic and adds a deeper richness to the flavor.
Pinch of Salt: Enhances the savory notes and brings out the natural sweetness of the garlic.

Substitutions and Customizations

No Foil Method: If you prefer to avoid foil, use a small oven-safe dish. Place the garlic bulb with the cut side facing down and proceed as usual.
Peeled Garlic Option: For a garlic confit, peel the garlic cloves, place them in a small dish, and cover them with olive oil. This will result in tender, spreadable garlic with a slightly different flavor.
Herb-Infused Roasted Garlic: Want more flavor? Wrap your garlic with a sprig or two of fresh herbs like thyme, rosemary, or basil before wrapping in foil. The herbs will add a fragrant note that complements the roasted garlic perfectly.

Step-by-Step Cooking Instructions

1. Prepare the Garlic for Roasting:

Begin by cutting off the top of the garlic bulb. This exposes the tops of the cloves, ensuring even caramelization during cooking.
Once you’ve trimmed the bulb, place it on a square piece of aluminum foil large enough to wrap the whole bulb.

2. Season and Drizzle:

Sprinkle a small pinch of salt over the exposed garlic cloves.
Drizzle with extra virgin olive oil. The oil helps in the caramelization process and adds richness to the flavor.
Carefully wrap the garlic in the foil, making sure it’s tightly sealed. This will trap the heat and moisture inside, creating the perfect environment for roasting.

3. Preheat the Air Fryer:

Set your air fryer to 400°F (200°C) and let it preheat for a couple of minutes. Preheating ensures the garlic roasts evenly from the start.

4. Air Fry the Garlic:

Place the wrapped garlic bulb in the air fryer basket. Depending on the size of your air fryer, you can roast multiple bulbs at once.
Let the garlic roast for 25 minutes. The high heat will caramelize the cloves, turning them soft, golden brown, and bursting with flavor.

5. Cool and Serve:

Carefully remove the garlic from the air fryer using oven mitts or tongs—remember, it will be extremely hot!
Let it cool for about 10 minutes before unwrapping. This cooling period is crucial as the garlic continues to cook slightly and becomes easier to handle.

6. Squeeze and Enjoy:

Once cool enough, gently squeeze the garlic cloves out of their skins. They should slide out easily and be soft and spreadable. Use the roasted garlic in your favorite recipes, or enjoy it as a spread on bread.

Pro Tips for Perfect Roasted Garlic

Expose the Cloves: When trimming the garlic bulb, ensure all cloves are slightly exposed. This helps with even caramelization.
Check for Doneness: The garlic should be golden and tender. If you find the cloves are not soft enough after 25 minutes, continue air frying in 2-minute increments until perfectly cooked.

Storage and Freezing Tips

Refrigeration: Store leftover roasted garlic in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
Longer Storage: If you want to keep it longer, squeeze out the roasted garlic cloves and submerge them in olive oil. This extends their shelf life to 2 weeks when stored in the fridge.
Freezing: You can freeze roasted garlic for up to 3 months. Simply mash the cloves and store them in small portions in ice cube trays or airtight freezer bags.

How to Use Roasted Garlic in Recipes

Roasted garlic is incredibly versatile, adding depth and a mellow sweetness to a variety of dishes. Here are a few ideas:

Spread on Bread: Mix roasted garlic with softened butter for a quick and delicious garlic spread.
Mix into Mashed Potatoes: Add the garlic cloves to mashed potatoes for a rich, savory boost.
Toss with Pasta: Combine roasted garlic with olive oil, herbs, and parmesan for a simple yet flavorful pasta dish.
Salad Dressing: Blend roasted garlic into vinaigrettes or creamy dressings for added complexity.

Health Benefits of Garlic

Garlic is known for its health benefits, from boosting the immune system to reducing blood pressure. Roasting garlic mellows its intensity but retains many of its health properties. It’s rich in antioxidants and has anti-inflammatory effects, making it not just a flavorful ingredient but also a nutritious one.

This easy air fryer roasted garlic is buttery, caramelized, and bursting with savory goodness. It’s a quick and efficient method, ready in under 30 minutes!

Prep Time: 2 minutes
Cook Time: 25 minutes
Total Time: 30 minutes
Cuisine: American
Servings: 1 garlic bulb
Calories: 40 kcal per serving

Ingredients:

1 head of garlic
1 teaspoon olive oil
Pinch of salt

Instructions:

Slice off the top of the garlic bulb to expose the cloves.
Place the garlic on a piece of foil, sprinkle with salt, and drizzle with olive oil.
Wrap the garlic tightly in the foil.
Preheat the air fryer to 400°F.
Air fry the garlic for 25 minutes.
Remove the garlic carefully with tongs or oven mitts, let it cool for 10 minutes.
Unwrap the garlic and squeeze out the roasted cloves from the skins. Enjoy!

Nutritional Information (Per 1 Tablespoon Serving)

Calories: 40 kcal
Carbohydrates: 1 g
Protein: 0.2 g
Total Fat: 4 g
- Saturated Fat: 1 g
- Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.4 g
- Monounsaturated Fat: 3 g
Sodium: 5 mg
Potassium: 12 mg
Dietary Fiber: 0.1 g
Sugar: 0.03 g
Vitamin A: 0.3 IU
Vitamin C: 1 mg
Calcium: 5 mg
Iron: 0.1 mg