Valentines Day Dinner II: Roasted Garlic Bruschetta (Healthy!)

A great accompaniment to a dish like broccoli rabe is roasted garlic bruschetta. Essentially you roast the garlic in its bulb until the garlic becomes so soft and sweet that you can squeeze it out of it's clove. It's SO much better than butter!

Roasted Garlic Bruschetta
1 bulb Garlic
1/4 cup plus 1 tsp Extra Virgin Olive Oil
1/2 loaf Italian Bread, sliced
Aluminum Foil

Preheat the oven to 350*f
1) Place the garlic in the center of a piece of tin foil.

2) Drizzle 1 tsp. olive oil on to the garlic.

3) Close the foil around the garlic so that it is completely encased.

4) Bake in oven for 30-40 minutes until soft.

After that comes out...

5) Arrange sliced Italian bread on a baking sheet.

6) Brush each piece with the remaining 1/4 cup of oil.

7) Bake until they begin to turn golden brown (about 10-15 minutes).

Now the garlic should be cool enough to handle, and you can spread it on the bread. I like to leave the garlic in the bulb and put it in a small bowl. That way people can pick the piece they want, and the inner cloves continue to soften from the heat.


Cooking garlic like this makes a great appetizer or side. It's wonderful for parties, too, because it takes very little preparation but looks and tastes impressive. You don't have to tell anyone that the garlic did all the work!

This meal is another that takes very little effort, but will stand up to the critics. Spending Valentines Day at home? Cooking for your honey? It doesn't get much more romantic than this!