How to Make and Shoot Roasted Garlic Spread
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Sometimes, shoots don’t have to be overly complicated. I enjoy smaller shoots to take a break from the complexities of bigger shoots that require lots of cooking and preparation, so for this shoot, I made roasted garlic spread from whole garlic heads.
A roasted garlic spread is made by cutting a head of garlic at the top, covering it in lots of olive oil, salt, and herbs, and baking it on a cast iron pan covered in foil for 50 minutes.
The recipe for the roasted garlic spread is extremely simple and is prepared in a matter of minutes. I start by cutting off the top of the head of garlic and then placing several into a small cast-iron pan. I coat the pan and the open side of the garlic with plenty of olive oil, then add a few pinches of salt, then garnish with rosemary and sage on top. After wrapping the top of the pan in tin foil, the garlic is ready to be roasted for 50 minutes.
The spread is ready to go onto any type of bread straight from the skin of the garlic- the herbs and the olive oil offset the strength of the garlic, so it can be a perfect spread to have on fancy bread. This is good for appetizers, a quick snack, or added onto salads. The garlic heads can be sealed in an airtight Ziploc bag, then put into the freezer after cooking, and they will stay fresh for about a month.
The simplicity of the recipe also makes the simplicity of the shoot, which was really quick and easy. I chose to use a cast iron pan because cast iron is so versatile, and I try to use cast iron cookware in my shoots often. Cast iron pots and pans have a texture that looks great on camera, and they are also very easy to cook with. Cast iron is also quite durable, and won’t show wear on camera as some glass or metal would. It can also be used anywhere, as I like to use cast iron for cooking vegetables or eggs on the grill.
Roasted Garlic Spread
Equipment
Ingredients
- 5 heads fresh garlic
- 3 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
- 1 tsp sea salt
- fresh rosemary
- fresh sage
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400°F
- Cut third of top garlic heads.
- Drizzle some olive oil into the 6 inch cast iron skillet.
- Place garlic heads roots down into cast iron skillet. Garlic should stay upright during the cooking.
- Drizzle remaining oil over the top of garlic heads. Sprinkle with sea salt and put fresh spices on top.
- Cover skillet tightly with cooking foil and bake for 50 minutes. Cook garlic till it is tender and caramelized.
- Let's cool. Push garlic cloves gently starting from the root to the top.
- Spread garlic on baguette or ciabatta bread. Enjoy!
Video
Food photography props used in this photoshoot
Some of the props might no longer be available in stores. I selected props as close as possible to match those items.
Food Photography & Video Tips from My Studio
Here’s a peek at the tools, gear, and camera setups I use to film my recipe videos and photograph food at home. Over the years, I’ve tested dozens of different setups, and now I’m sharing what actually works for me—whether I’m filming overhead shots for YouTube or styling still photos for my blog. If you’re curious about how I create the content you see here, these posts are a great place to start.
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