Description
This creamy garlic dressing is a flavorful and smooth sauce perfect for salads, dips, or drizzling over roasted vegetables. Roasting the garlic bulbs deepens their flavor, creating a rich, mellow garlic base that blends seamlessly with tangy lemon juice, honey, and Dijon mustard for a balanced, savory dressing.
Ingredients
Roasted Garlic
- 2-3 heads garlic
- 1 teaspoon olive oil (for drizzling on garlic bulbs)
Dressing
- 1/2 cup olive oil
- 1 lemon, juiced
- 1/4 cup water
- 3 tablespoons white vinegar
- 2 teaspoons honey
- 2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
- 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/2 teaspoon fresh thyme
- Kosher salt and black pepper to taste
Instructions
- Preheat and Prepare Garlic: Preheat your oven to 390 °F (199 °C). Drizzle about one teaspoon of olive oil over each garlic bulb, then wrap each bulb tightly in aluminum foil squares to ensure even roasting.
- Roast Garlic: Place the wrapped garlic bulbs in the oven and roast them for approximately 45 minutes until they become soft and fragrant, which will give the dressing a deep, mellow garlic flavor.
- Blend Ingredients: In a bowl, combine the roasted garlic cloves, lemon juice, white vinegar, honey, Dijon mustard, Worcestershire sauce, onion powder, fresh thyme, salt, and pepper. Using an immersion blender or a high-speed blender, blend these ingredients together to form a smooth paste.
- Incorporate Olive Oil: While blending, slowly drizzle in the 1/2 cup of olive oil to emulsify the dressing, achieving a creamy and well-integrated texture.
- Adjust Consistency: Add 1/4 cup of water as needed to thin the dressing to your preferred consistency, blending briefly to combine.
- Season and Chill: Taste the dressing and adjust seasoning with additional salt and pepper if desired. Refrigerate the dressing for at least 2 hours to allow flavors to meld and develop fully.
- Serve and Enjoy: Use the creamy garlic dressing as a salad dressing, dip, or drizzle over vegetables. Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator.
Notes
- Roasting the garlic is essential to develop a mellow, sweet garlic flavor that balances the acidity in the dressing.
- If you want a thinner dressing, add more water gradually until you reach the desired consistency.
- For a vegan version, substitute honey with maple syrup or agave nectar and ensure the Worcestershire sauce is vegan-friendly.
- This dressing can be stored refrigerated for up to one week in an airtight container.
- Use fresh lemon juice for the best flavor impact.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 45 minutes
- Category: Dressing
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
