Today is National Garlic Day, and while we don’t go all in on every crazy “holiday” that comes our way, roasted garlic happens to be one of our favorite ingredients to work with.  Whether it’s slathered on toast or mixed into a dish, there’s (almost) nothing that doesn’t benefit from this creamy, nutty addition.  Here’s our favorite technique for how to roast garlic in your oven, plus a couple must-try recipes to celebrate National Garlic Day.

How To Roast Garlic

Preheat your oven to 400°F

1. Remove any loose layers of skin from your garlic bulb by giving it a light rub with your hands, leaving the rest of the skin intact.
2. Using a sharp knife, remove the top 1/2 inch or so from the bulb (the pointed end, not the root end), exposing the tops of the garlic cloves within
3. Place the garlic bulb on a sheet of aluminum foil (enough to the wrap the bulb in) and drizzle lightly with 1-2 teaspoons of olive oil
4. Wrap the garlic bulb in the aluminum foil and place on a baking sheet
5. Roast in the oven for 30-40 minutes
6. Once roasted, allow the garlic to rest until it is cool enough to handle, then use your fingers to gently squeeze the cloves from the skin or use a small fork to remove them.

It’s as easy as that!  From here, mash and slather those cloves over some freshly toasted baguette or store in the fridge for later.  Roasted garlic will keep in the fridge for about a week, so store it in the freezer if you don’t plan on using it all up right away.