Roasted Garlic Bread Dip

Source

Ingredients

• 3 heads of garlic
• 1 (8 oz) block cream cheese, softened
• 1 cup sour cream
• 3/4 cup mayonnaise
• 6 oz shredded mozzarella cheese
• 4 oz shredded mozzarella cheese (to top)
• 4 oz grated Parmesan cheese (divided)
• 2 tablespoons fresh chives, finely chopped (plus more for garnish)
• 1/4 cup fresh parsley, finely chopped
• 3-4 basil leaves, chopped
• Salt and black pepper, to taste
• 1 tsp Italian seasoning
• 1 tsp red pepper flakes (to taste)
• 1 clove garlic, grated
• 1 tsp fresh lemon zest (to taste)

Directions

1. Roast the Garlic

   • Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C).
   • Slice the top (not root) off each head of garlic to expose the cloves. Drizzle with olive oil, and season with salt and pepper. Wrap in foil and roast for about 1 hour, or until the cloves are very soft and lightly caramelized. Let cool.
   • Once cooled, squeeze the roasted garlic cloves out of their skins into a small bowl and mash them with a fork until mostly smooth.

2. Preheat for Baking the Dip

   • Reduce oven temperature to 350°F (190°C).

3. Prepare the Creamy Base

   • In a medium mixing bowl, add the softened cream cheese, sour cream, and mayonnaise. Stir until smooth and well combined (can use a hand mixer).
   • Add in 6 oz mozzarella, 2 oz Parmesan, chives, parsley, basil. Stir to combine.
   • Add salt and pepper, Italian seasoning, red pepper, grated garlic, and lemon zest. Stir to combine.

4. Incorporate Roasted Garlic and Seasonings

   • Add the mashed roasted garlic to the mixture and fold it in thoroughly.

5. Bake the Dip

   • Transfer the mixture to an oven-safe baking dish (an 8-inch baking dish works well).
   • Top with the remaining 4 oz mozzarella (might not use it all) and 2 oz parmesan.
   • Bake at 350°F for about 10 minutes, and then finish under the broiler until golden and bubbly.

Garnish with fresh chives & enjoy.