Active Time

　　10 min

　　Total Time

　　1 1/2 hr

　　

Ingredients

Makes about 1/2 cup

　　2 heads garlic (3 inches wide)

　　1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil

　　6 (4-inch) sprigs fresh thyme

　　3 (4-inch) sprigs fresh rosemary

　　1/2 teaspoon salt

　　1/4 teaspoon black pepper

　　

Step 1

Put oven rack in middle position and preheat oven to 425°F.

　　

Step 2

Cut off and discard 1/2 inch from tops of garlic heads, exposing cloves. Put garlic in a pie plate with oil, herbs, salt, and pepper and cover plate tightly with a double layer of foil. Roast until garlic is golden and tender, 1 to 1 1/4 hours.

　　

Step 3

When garlic is cool enough to handle, squeeze cloves into a bowl and pour oil through a fine-mesh sieve onto garlic. Mash well with a fork and season with salt.