Almost every culture uses garlic to enhance the taste of the dishes that are being prepared. It is specifically used in many Asian dishes. Who doesn’t like eating some chilli garlic Hakka noodles, right? And in Indian cuisines, adding garlic to our dishes is like a staple that cannot be missed. It is an essential ingredient with such a great aroma that can make you feel cozy and comfortable. When roasted, garlic can be turned into this buttery, rich, aromatic, caramelized, sour treat that is full of flavors and has many uses in the kitchen! Apart from adding the much-needed spice, aroma and taste to the dishes, the health benefits of roasted garlic can improve multiple conditions.
But the question is, why roast garlic?
- When you roast the garlic, it removes the pungent sharpness from the bite. The process concentrates the sugars present in the clove and turns it into a thick, buttery, spreadable texture which had sweet and complex flavours.
- In its roasted form, garlic might be easier to digest by many.
- Its sweet and sour tastes will help in adding depth to the flavours while preparing different dishes.
- This is the best way to preserve garlic.
How to use roasted garlic?
- Add it to the hummus and dips to add more flavour to them. These dips can be used to eat along with raw vegetables for a quick snack.
- Spread it over a bagel and enjoy a nutritious and yummy snack.
- Add it to the mashed or roasted potatoes to get that garlicky, tasty flavour.
- It will make your soups and stews a hundred times better. Add it to mushrooms, cauliflower and many veggies.
- Add it to whipped butter or feta cheese.
Some of the health benefits of roasted garlic include:
- It prevents flu and cold
If you have been combating the seasonal flu and cold, garlic might come to your help. Add the roasted garlic to your everyday diet in any of the forms that you like and see it do wonders. It has antimicrobial properties which help in fighting the disease-causing bacteria and viruses.
- Reduces Blood Pressure
High blood pressure is one of the major risk factors behind many heart-related diseases like a heart attack or a stroke. Hypertension causes many different health problems as well. A study has shown that consuming garlic every day can help in reducing blood pressure significantly. But the amount of intake needs to be a little high to see desired results. You must eat about 4 cloves of roasted garlic for the same.
- Lowers Cholesterol
One of the health benefits of roasted garlic is that it can help in improving your heart health by lowering down bad cholesterol. Studies have shown that garlic and its supplements can reduce LDL or bad cholesterol by 15-20%.
- Enhances Brain Function
The harmful effects of oxidative processes caused by free radicals lead to ageing and age-related brain diseases. Garlic has a high content of bio compound that helps in producing enzymes that are highly potent antioxidants. When combined with the potential positive effects of lowering bad cholesterol and lowering blood pressure as well, the health benefits of roasted garlic can boost brain function and reduces the risk of Alzheimer’s and Dementia.
- Detoxifies Body of Heavy Metals
The sulphur that is produced by roasting the garlic is seen to detoxify the organs of many heavy metals causing clinical diseases. A study done on car battery producing employees, who were highly exposed to lead, showed that the regular consumption of garlic reduced the presence of heavy metals and lead by 20%. It also had a significant effect in lowering the symptoms like toxicity, blood pressure and frequent and persisting headaches.
- Improves Bone Health
Studies have found that regular consumption of garlic reduces bone loss, especially in women. It also showed that when menopausal women took about 2 grams of garlic regularly, there was a significant improvement in their estrogen levels and the loss of bones was minimized.
Also Read: Ayurveda for Arthritis: Essential Ayurvedic Herbs to Manage Joint Pain
How to roast garlic in the oven?
To maximize the health benefits of roasted garlic, here is a quick method for you to follow.
Ingredients: Cloves of garlic, olive oil and pink salt.
Method:
- Peel off the skin of the garlic cloves and chop the head on top of the cloves.
- Add a generous amount of olive oil to the baking tray and mix pink salt in it.
- Sprinkle garlic cloves in the oil and cover the tray with foil.
- Put it in a pre-heated oven for about 45 minutes.
How to roast garlic on the cooking stove?
Ingredients: Cloves of garlic, mustard oil and pink salt.
Method:
- Peel off the skin of the garlic cloves and chop the head on top of the cloves.
- Take a generous helping of mustard oil in a pan and heat it a little bit.
- Add the garlic cloves to the oil in the pan and roast them until they turn mushy and golden brown.
How to preserve roasted garlic?
The health benefits of garlic can be enjoyed by properly preserving them at your home.
- You can store the roasted garlic in a zip lock bag in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
- Add the roasted cloves of garlic to an airtight container. Cover it with a layer of olive oil and shut the container tight. And keep it in the fridge. You would be able to store it for 10 days.
- If you decide to freeze it, the roasted garlic can last indefinitely for usage.
The Bottom Line
The health benefits of roasted garlic are countless. Apart from improving your heart, brain and bone health, adding roasted garlic to your dishes can make them quite flavorful as well.
So, what are you waiting for? Go ahead and get a taste of this caramelized, sweet and sour treat.