Ingredients:

  • 1 large head of garlic
  • 1 tsp extra virgin olive oil
  • 1 pinch sea salt
  • 8 oz Neufchâtel cheese, softened
  • 0.5 cup plain non-fat Greek yogurt
  • 1 cup shredded low-moisture mozzarella
  • 0.5 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
  • 0.5 tsp garlic powder
  • 0.25 tsp red pepper flakes
  • 2 tbsp fresh parsley, finely chopped
  • 1 tsp fresh thyme leaves
  • 0.25 cup Panko breadcrumbs

Instructions:

  1. Prep the garlic. Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C). Slice the top quarter off the garlic head to expose the cloves, drizzle with olive oil and salt, and wrap it tightly in aluminum foil.
  2. Roast until soft. Bake the garlic for 30-35 minutes until the cloves are mahogany colored and soft. Note: This creates the sweet base for the dip.
  3. Create the paste. Once cool enough to handle, squeeze the cloves out of their skins and mash them into a smooth, thick paste with a fork.
  4. Aerate the base. Reduce the oven to 375°F (190°C). Combine the garlic paste, softened Neufchâtel, Greek yogurt, and garlic powder in a food processor until the mixture is aerated and completely smooth.
  5. Fold in the cheese. By hand, fold in the shredded mozzarella and exactly half (0.25 cup) of the Parmesan, along with the red pepper flakes.
  6. Assemble the dish. Transfer the creamy mixture into your 1 quart baking dish, smoothing the top with a spatula.
  7. Prepare the topping. In a small bowl, toss the Panko breadcrumbs with the remaining Parmesan, parsley, and thyme.
  8. Final bake. Sprinkle the topping over the dip and bake for 12-15 minutes until the top is golden and the cheese is bubbling. | Numeric Checkpoint | Value | Why It Matters | | :--- | :--- | :--- | | Garlic Roast Temp | 400°F | Necessary for caramelization of sugars. | | Cheese Bake Temp | 375°F | Hot enough to bubble without breaking the emulsion. | | Baking Dish Size | 1 Quart | Ensures the dip is thick enough to retain heat. | Seriously Cheesy Homemade Cheddar Popcorn in 20 Mins — Forget dusty shaker cheese This is the best cheddar cheese popcorn recipe boa...Fluffy Cheese Soufflé Recipe: A Simple French Classic to Impress — Looking for an easy cheese soufflé recipe? My fluffy cheese soufflé is a deli...Delicious Homemade Spinach and Ricotta Tortellini Recipe — Discover how to make traditional tortellini filled with fresh spinach and ric... $img_2$