Garlic bread is a popular side dish made with bread, butter, garlic powder, salt, and minced garlic. It can be made by filling the cavity of a loaf or by applying the butter and garlic to individual slices. Ready-to-bake garlic bread is also available. It is commonly served with pasta dishes and soups.
Garlic bread is an easy favorite at many dinner tables. Often made with slices or chunks of thick bread such as French or Italian bread with a garlic-butter dressing, the tradition of serving garlic bread with a number of different pasta dishes and other appetizers is common around the world. Here are the basics of making garlic bread, plus where to buy ready-to-bake garlic bread.
The beginning of a good garlic bread batch starts with the type of bread that is used. A loaf of plain or Italian bread from any supermarket bakery will work well. Additional toppings cooked on the bread, such as cheese or sesame seeds, can be used if desired. There should also be plenty of butter on hand, along with garlic powder, salt, and minced garlic. The garlic and butter combination can be combined upon application or the butter can be melted beforehand and allowed to cool to make a garlic spread.
Two methods are used frequently in making garlic bread. One is to split the loaf and fill the cavity with butter and garlic of some sort. Place the loaf on aluminum foil. Using a standard paring knife, make a lengthwise cut down the center of the loaf, not all the way through the bottom crust. If desired, horizontal cuts can also be made. Pack the loaf with butter, minced garlic and garlic powder, then wrap the loaf in aluminum foil. Heat in the oven for several minutes to melt the butter and allow the garlic flavor to penetrate the bread.
The other method is to separate the loaf into slices or sections for the individual application of the garlic and butter. This can be accomplished by using a paring knife to cut the bread into sections. However, some people prefer to gently tear the loaf into sections, resulting in a patchwork of textured rough sections. The slices are laid out on a baking sheet, often buttered and sprinkled with garlic powdered salt. Pieces of minced garlic can be used to complete the effect. The loaded sheet is placed in a preheated oven, where the butter melts and mixes with the garlic to flavor the bread. This approach will produce a crunchier texture than cooking garlic bread in aluminum foil.
While making garlic bread is easy, it is possible to purchase garlic bread that is already buttered and seasoned with garlic. Many of these prepared breads come in their own foil case, so it’s just a matter of baking them in the oven long enough for the butter to melt into the bread. Garlic bread is a great accompaniment to a number of dishes, especially tomato-based soups, lasagna, linguine or spaghetti. When paired with a green salad and an appetizer, garlic bread is the perfect way to balance out a meal and add the nice garlic flavor to the meal.
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