Description
This Roasted Garlic and Tomato Cheese Dip is a creamy, flavorful blend of roasted garlic, shallots, and tomatoes, mixed with rich cheeses and fresh herbs. Perfect for parties or cozy nights in, it pairs beautifully with bread or crackers.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1–2 heads garlic
- 1–2 shallots
- 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- 2 tablespoons fresh thyme leaves
- Kosher salt and black pepper to taste
- 2 cups cherry tomatoes
- 8 ounces cream cheese, softened
- ¼ cup mayonnaise
- ½ cup fresh basil, chopped
- ¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 2 cups shredded low-moisture mozzarella cheese
Instructions
- Preheat the Oven: Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C).
- Roast the Garlic and Shallots: Place the garlic and shallots in a small baking dish (around 8×8 inches). Drizzle with olive oil and sprinkle with fresh thyme. Roast for about 40 minutes, until the garlic and shallots are golden and soft. Remove from the oven and let cool.
- Roast the Tomatoes: In the same dish, add 1½ cups of cherry tomatoes. Toss with olive oil, salt, pepper, and a pinch of chili flakes if desired. Roast for an additional 10 minutes until the tomatoes start to blister.
- Prepare the Garlic and Shallot Paste: Squeeze the softened garlic cloves and shallots onto a cutting board and mash them into a paste using a fork or knife.
- Make the Cheese Dip: In a mixing bowl, combine the cream cheese, mayonnaise, garlic-shallot paste, fresh basil, and a pinch of black pepper. Mix in the grated Parmesan and 1 cup of mozzarella cheese until everything is well blended.
- Combine and Bake: Remove the roasted tomatoes from the oven. Add the cheese mixture to the dish with the tomatoes and gently mix to combine. Sprinkle the remaining mozzarella cheese on top. Bake for another 15 minutes until the cheese is melted and bubbling.
- Garnish and Serve: Slice the remaining cherry tomatoes and garnish the dip with fresh basil, thyme, and the tomato slices. Sprinkle with additional chili flakes if you like some heat. Serve hot with your favorite bread or crackers.
Notes
- For a spicier kick, add more chili flakes to the tomato mixture.
- This dip can be made ahead of time and baked just before serving.
- Prep Time: 15 mins
- Cook Time: 1 hour 10 minutes
- Category: Appetizer
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Mediterranean
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/8 of the dip
- Calories: 210
- Sugar: 2g
- Sodium: 320mg
- Fat: 16g
- Saturated Fat: 8g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 10g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 7g
- Cholesterol: 40mg