This straightforward yet nourishing toast serves as a digestive health booster. Packed with antioxidants from tomatoes, including lycopene and plant polyphenols, it also incorporates garlic and thyme, which act as natural antimicrobial agents to maintain a healthy gut flora balance. Additionally, the inclusion of olive oil, rich in fatty acids and polyphenols, helps combat inflammation within the digestive tract. For further gut health improvement, delve into our collection of beneficial recipes.

For this particular dish, refrain from using extra-virgin olive oil as its robust flavor can overwhelm the dish. Opt for standard olive oil instead.

Ingredients:

• 4 whole garlic bulbs
• 6 sprigs of thyme
• 400ml olive oil
• 300g cherry tomatoes, sliced in half
• 4 slices of sourdough bread, toasted

Preparation Steps:

1. Preheat your oven to 160°C (320°F) for conventional settings or 140°C (284°F) for fan-assisted, corresponding to gas mark 3. Slice the tops horizontally off the garlic bulbs to expose the cloves and place them in a snug, deep baking dish. Toss in the thyme sprigs and a healthy pinch of salt, then cover with olive oil until the garlic is nearly submerged, adding more oil if necessary. Bake for an hour or until the garlic is tender.

2. Arrange the halved cherry tomatoes, cut side up, in a separate baking dish and season with salt. Place them in the oven for the last 25 minutes of the garlic's baking time.

3. After baking, gently remove the garlic bulbs from the oil and allow them to cool slightly. Squeeze the soft garlic out of their skins and spread it on the toasted sourdough slices. Top with the roasted tomatoes and a drizzle of the garlic-infused oil (save the remaining oil for future cooking needs; it stays fresh for up to two weeks in the refrigerator).

Nutritional Information Per Serving:

• Calories: 357
• Fat: 18.2g
• Saturated Fat: 2.7g
• Carbohydrates: 38g
• Sugars: 4.8g
• Fiber: 3.1g
• Protein: 8.8g
• Salt: 1.1g