Description
Garlic bread dip brings warmth and comfort to any gathering, blending classic Italian flavors with creamy, cheesy goodness. Rich herbed cream cheese melts perfectly with garlic and parmesan, creating a delightful starter you’ll crave at every meal.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 1 (8 ounces) block cream cheese, softened
- 1 cup sour cream
- 1 1/2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese
Roasting Ingredients:
- 2 whole shallots, bottoms cut off
- 2 heads garlic, tops cut off
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
Seasoning and Garnish:
- 1/2 cup fresh chopped parsley
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes
Instructions
- Warm the kitchen oven to a temperature of 375°F, preparing for the roasting process.
- Carefully slice the tops off garlic heads and trim the bottoms of shallots to expose their inner cloves and bulbs.
- Position the prepared garlic and shallots onto a generous aluminum foil sheet.
- Generously drizzle olive oil over the vegetables and dust with a light sprinkle of salt.
- Completely enclose the garlic and shallots in the foil, creating a sealed packet.
- Roast the wrapped vegetables in the oven for approximately one hour until they become soft and develop a rich caramelized exterior.
- Allow the roasted vegetables to cool slightly, then gently squeeze the tender cloves from their papery skins into a mixing bowl.
- Using a fork, transform the roasted garlic and shallots into a smooth, fragrant paste.
- Incorporate softened cream cheese and sour cream into the vegetable paste, blending until thoroughly combined.
- Fold in mozzarella, parmesan, chopped parsley, seasonings, and red pepper flakes, creating a harmonious mixture.
- Transfer the creamy mixture into an 8 or 9-inch pie plate, smoothing it into an even layer.
- Scatter the remaining mozzarella across the top of the dip.
- Reduce oven temperature to 350°F for the final baking stage.
- Bake for 20-25 minutes until the surface turns golden and the edges bubble enticingly.
- Decorate with fresh parsley and an additional sprinkle of red pepper flakes.
- Present immediately alongside toasted bread, crispy bagel chips, or crunchy pita chips for dipping.
Notes
- Roast garlic and shallots low and slow to develop deep, sweet caramelized flavors that transform the entire dip’s taste profile.
- Experiment with cheese varieties like gruyère or fontina for a more complex, nutty undertone that elevates the traditional mozzarella base.
- For a lighter version, substitute cream cheese with Greek yogurt and use reduced-fat cheeses to cut down on calories without sacrificing rich, creamy texture.
- Make this dip keto-friendly by replacing bread chips with crispy cucumber slices, zucchini rounds, or pork rinds for a low-carb dipping option.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 1 hour 25 minutes
- Category: Appetizer, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 8
- Calories: 232
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 380 mg
- Fat: 20 g
- Saturated Fat: 10 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 9 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 7 g
- Cholesterol: 40 mg