Garlic Bread

Garlic bread is a beloved staple dish with intense aromatic flavours and buttery goodness. At its most basic, garlic bread is an interesting combination of bread, Butter, parsley, and garlic. The preferred bread for creating works of culinary art is usually a French baguette or Italian-style bread. When these types of bread are baked or broiled, they transform into this amazingly crunchy accompaniment to your favourite main meal.

Our garlic bread recipe features a crispy, golden baguette, slathered with rich, garlicky butter. Garlic bread is truly a heavenly creation. 😉 Many people can concur that creamy butter, specks of parsley and garlic is a delightful concoction.

In Ancient Rome, garlic was preferred for its medicinal properties. As the Italians began to migrate to all parts of the world, they travelled with their favourite recipes firmly implanted in their minds. In America, many Italian restaurants began to feature garlic bread on their dining tables. It was commonly offered for free before the main meal was served.

Ingredients

Baguette, Butter, Garlic, Parsley.

You can use different types of bread to make Garlic Bread. Consider a French baguette if you would prefer bite-size pieces of bread. Slice diagonally, it will many portions. Baguettes are easily accessible at most supermarkets around the world and it is perfect for large family gatherings and parties. Baguettes have a chewy texture, it is perfect for soups and stews as the bread will soften when it is dipped into broth-based meals.

Now, if you want to create an appetizer that is more satiating, then focaccia bread would be your best bet. Focaccia bread has a softer texture and it is dense in its structure. It is ideal for individuals that are serving lean proteins and a heavy meat-based meal. Artisan bread is also another great option, it comes in different sizes and will feature larger slices of bread compared to Baguette and Focaccia, however artisan breads can be sliced horizontally.

Instructions

Using the Oven Method

Preheat the oven to 150°C. In a small bowl, prepare the butter. Combine softened butter with minced garlic and chopped butter. If using unsalted butter, add a pinch of salt. If using salted butter, you can omit the salt. Mix your ingredients with a fork. Cut the baguette into slices. We recommend a thickness of 1 inch. Avoid cutting all the way through; you want pockets of the garlic butter mixture.

This will ensure that every bite is full of flavour. Generously spread your garlic butter mixture onto your garlic bread. Make sure that the butter is distributed for consistent flavour. Wrap the baguette in aluminium foil. Place it on a baking sheet and put it in the oven. Ensure that your oven has been preheated for at least 15 minutes.

Thereafter, remove it from the oven and bake for an additional 5 minutes. This will result in a crispy and golden baguette. You can also sprinkle Parmesan cheese on your baguette, creating a savoury crust. Once baked, remove the baguette from the oven and let it cool.

Using the Stove-top method

Instead of placing the sliced baguette in the oven. Finely dice the garlic and finely chop the parsley. Add to garlic and parsley to the softened butter. Then, butter the bread with garlic butter and toast on a non-stick pan or grill pan.

How to Serve Garlic bread?

This recipe can pair with a number of dishes. If you’re serving it with soup, consider our Cauliflower soup. It is creamy and rich-tasting. It is perfectly paired with the bread. Tomato soup will also be incredibly delicious with the bread. Feeling for something hearty? Consider our Easy beef stew recipe. The best part about this recipe is that it is easy to put together and uses minimal ingredients.

How to Store Garlic Bread?

Store at room temperature. Garlic bread will last for about one week. Reheat in the oven, add more garlic butter if necessary. It is not recommended to freeze Garlic Bread.

Different types of Garlic Bread

In Italy, different regions have their unique way of making garlic bread, with the addition of different ingredients and spices.

Tuscan Bruschetta

It is famously called the ‘original garlic bread.’ In Central Italy, thick slices of rustic Tuscan bread are rubbed with raw garlic, drizzled with olive oil, and sprinkled with salt.

Pane Cunzato & Crostini

It occurs dominantly in Southern Italy in regions such as Sicily, Puglia, and Calabria. It uses wood-fired bread, otherwise known as Altamura. The bread is topped with anchovies, chili flakes, garlic, and olive oil.

Garlic Bread made with Butter

The style of making garlic bread in the northern parts of Italy, such as Lombardy and Piedmont, is fancier than in the southern parts. They use Butter instead of olive oil and top their garlic bread with cheese and their favourite herbs.

French Garlic Bread

In France, Garlic bread is made with focaccia. They also incorporate parmesan chees and mozzarella cheese with the addition of herbs such as oregano and parsley.