Roasted Garlic Dip

The deep flavor of this roasted garlic dip is a must-try for any garlic lover. This creamy appetizer is saturated with the deliciously earthy flavor of roasted garlic and perfectly balanced with a bright splash of red wine vinegar and fresh chives.

Best of all, this is a great dip to make in advance of your next party because the flavors continue to improve as they mingle overnight in your refrigerator. If you can't get enough garlic, this recipe is for you!

Ingredients Needed

• Whole head of garlic 
• Olive oil
• Cream cheese
• Mayonnaise
• Fresh chives
• Red wine vinegar
• Black pepper
• Salt

How to roast garlic

To make a roasted garlic dip, you obviously have to roast some raw garlic. Don't worry, this is easy to do. Just follow these easy steps to have perfectly roasted garlic:

• Preheat your oven to 375 degrees.
• Slice the tops off each head of garlic to expose the cloves. Any loose papery skins can be removed.
• Place the entire head of garlic in a muffin tin, or set them on a cookie sheet nested in aluminum foil to allow them to sit flat.
• Brush olive oil over each head of garlic and cover loosely with a piece of aluminum foil to prevent burning.
• Place in preheated oven and roast for 40 minutes, or until the cloves have softened.
• Remove from oven and let cool to room temperature, or cool enough for you to handle.

How to make this dip

Make this easy roasted garlic dip softening the cream cheese as the garlic roasts in the oven. The easiest way to soften cream cheese is to microwave it in a large bowl for approximately 45 seconds. It is important that it is softened or lumps will form when you try to mix it with the mayonnaise. Whisk mayo together with the cream cheese until smooth, then stir in chives, red wine vinegar, salt, and pepper.

Once the garlic has finished roasting and is cool enough to handle, squeeze out each softened clove from the garlic head and roughly chop them into small pieces. Stir the roasted garlic into the dip.

What to serve with roasted garlic dip?

Garlic dip pairs nicely with a wide array of your favorite crackers, chips, and breads. Choose from any of these tasty pairings:

• Gourmet crackers - Serve with a hearty cracker such as Triscuits. I personally enjoy the Black Pepper flavored Triscuits with this dip.
• Pretzels - Pretzel sticks or flattened pretzel chips would both work well.
• Crusty bread - This is the perfect dip to dunk torn French baguettes, your favorite crusty artisan bread, or other good bread.
• Chips - Potato chips or pita chips would be a deliciously crunchy pairing.
• Fresh Vegetables - This would make a great vegetable dip as well.
• This amazing dip also works well as a dipping sauce for shrimp, chicken, or as a burger topping.

Can this be made in advance?

If you are looking for a dip you can make in advance of your next party or get-together, this roasted garlic dip recipe is perfect for you. The deep-roasted flavor of the garlic needs time to permeate throughout the entire dip and really let its flavor shine, so anyone with the foresight to make this a day or more in advance will be rewarded with even more flavor!

The dip needs to be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator, otherwise, your entire fridge, and all of the food in it, will take on the garlic aroma. I recommend enjoying this dip within three days.

Customize this recipe

This garlicky dip can be customized to add other exciting flavors. Try any of these ideas to make this simple recipe your own!

• Stir in blue cheese crumbles.
• Add fresh herbs such as thyme leaves. (I don't recommend substituting dried herbs in this recipe)
• Substitute sour cream instead of using mayo, altnernatively Greek yogurt can be used as a healthier substitute.
• Use balsamic vinegar or lemon juice instead of red wine vinegar.
• Add a pinch of lemon zest.
• Top it with Parmesan cheese and bake it prior to serving.

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