Astas Baked Garlic Appetizer Food

ROASTED GARLIC-BEST CASUAL APPETIZER

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Cut the top ¼ inch from the top of the bulb. Alternatively, separate the cloves from the bulb, and rub off the papery outer skins. Either way, place the garlic in a baking dish.
• (Or roast in aluminum foil. The sheet of foil needs to be large enough to fold over itself and the garlic.)
• Drizzle the garlic with olive oil. Add a couple of tablespoons of water. Cover tightly.
• Bake for about 1 hour, until the garlic is completely soft inside.

TORTELLINI WITH ROASTED GARLIC SAUCE (APPETIZER)

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°F Cut 1/2-inch off top of garlic and remove papery outer skin, leaving cloves intact. Wrap garlic in foil and bake 1 hour, or until tender when pierced with a sharp knife. Let stand until cool enough to handle.
• Cook tortellini according to package directions (do NOT overcook, best to undercook a bit). Rinse under cold water, drain well on paper towels. Heat 2 tablespoons oil in large nonstick skillet over medium heat(medium-high worked better for me). Add tortellini in batches to oil, cook and stir 3-5 minutes or until lightly golden. Add more oil if necessary. Drain on paper towels.
• Separate cooled garlic into cloves; pinch each clove so roasted flesh comes out and place in blender or food processor. Add mayonnaise, sour cream, Parmesan cheese and hot sauce. Cover and process until pureed and very smooth. Spoon into small saucepan; cook and stir over low heat until hot and bubbly. Transfer to small serving bowl.
• To serve, arrange tortellini on serving platter. Dip into Roasted Garlic Sauce.

OVEN ROASTED GARLIC APPETIZER

Steps:

• Heat oven to 375F.
• PREPARE GARLIC FOR ROASTING: Place peeled garlic cloves on a double layer of tin foil. Drizzle oil over cloves to coat - about 2 tablespoons. Add pinch of salt and sugar if desired (I do), Lift edges of tin foil upward to enclose garlic. Scrunch top if tin foil together to seal garlic pouch. Lay it on a pan in case of leaking.
• ROAST GARLIC: Place pouch on pan in oven. Roast for 40-55 minutes, depending on size of garlic cloves. Garlic is ready when it's soft, golden and slightly caramelized.
• MAKE APPETIZER AND SERVE: Heat Focaccia (or other bread) in 350F pre-heated oven for 5-6 minutes or until warmed through and slightly crisped up. Transfer to cutting board and cut into bite size pieces (2-3 inches). Drizzle with garlic cloves along with the garlic-infused oil. Top with chopped parsley if desired. Serve with a butter knife if guests want to spread garlic on bread.

ROASTED BALSAMIC GARLIC ASPARAGUS APPETIZER

Steps:

• Preheat your oven to 400 degrees F.
• Trim the asparagus: rinse the asparagus, cut about an inch off the ends, then use a vegetable peeler to take the outer layer off another inch of the remaining fibrous ends (easiest is to lay the spear on a flat surface then use peeler to gently take off the layer - careful, or you'll remove too much).
• Place the trimmed asparagus in a single layer on a non-stick baking sheet, then spray with an olive oil mister or drizzle evenly with olive oil (or spray with pan spray).
• Season with the sea salt and the freshly ground pepper.
• Place in oven and roast for 8 minutes (don't overcook).
• Meanwhile, in a small saucepan over very low heat melt the butter and extra virgin olive oil.
• Add the sliced garlic and simmer (again, over very low heat) for 5 minutes - careful not to burn.
• Remove from heat and add the soy sauce and balsamic.
• When asparagus is done, remove from the oven and place in a container which has an airtight cover.
• Place the garlic from the balsamic mixture on the asparagus; whisk the balsamic mixture well (I use a pigtail whisk) and pour it over the roasted asparagus.
• Cover tightly, shake, and place in refrigerator to chill (please note that the asparagus is still hot in the container, and that covering them and adding the sauce at this point will continue to steam them a bit for a few minutes).
• Chill for at least 4 hours before serving, the place attractively on serving platter.
• Goes well as part of an anti pasto course!
• Note: although I used these as an appetizer/snack, they could also work quite well as a side dish.

EASY GARLIC MUSHROOM APPETIZERS

Steps:

• Heat oil and butter in a skillet on low heat, add the mushrooms, chopped green onions and the garlic.
• Cook on low heat for 12-15 minutes until the mushrooms appear to be fully cooked.
• Remove mushrooms from oil and enjoy.