Choosing Garlic:
For the best flavor, select firm, heavy heads with tight skins. Hardneck garlic varieties (such as Music or German Red) offer more complexity and a cleaner heat than most supermarket softneck varieties.
Preventing Bitterness:
Garlic burns quickly. Add minced garlic to warm—not scorching—fat, and cook just until fragrant. Overcooking turns it harsh and metallic.
Balancing Butter & Olive Oil:
A blend of butter for richness and extra-virgin olive oil for aroma delivers a more nuanced flavor and prevents the butter from over-browning under the broiler.
their color and freshness.
Garlic bread is basically bread topped with a blend of garlic and olive oil or butter, toasted or grilled.
Although sliced, Italian bread is most common, it's fun to pre slice a hoagie/hero roll about 3/4 through and pour lightly toasted garlic and olive oil over the loaf-then bake in the oven. Add fresh Italian parsley or even top with fresh mozzarella and bake. People can 'tear' off pieces and enjoy with their meal.
It's important to use a great bread (you can choose your favorite) and good quality garlic and olive oil. I prefer Italian bread or baguette, an imported, Italian olive oil and always use fresh garlic rather than the pre-peeled or chopped available in markets. I actually grow my own garlic these days!
Garlic itself is a remarkable ingredient: pungent when raw, mellow and sweet when roasted, and transformative in most savory dishes. I plant garlic in the fall, covered in a cold frame to overwinter, and harvest in spring and summer; this slow development provides great flavor.
Garlic Bread
Prep Time: 20 min
Cooking Time: 15 min
Yield: 4 portions
Ingredients
8 ea Baguette slices
1/2 C Olive oil or melted butter
1/2 C Fresh Garlic, peeled and minced
3 Tbsp Italian parsley, rinsed and chopped
tt Crushed, black pepper
4 Tbsp Mozzarella cheese shredded; optional
How to Prepare Garlic Bread
Step 1
Slice the bread. 350° F
Peel the garlic by gently smashing the whole clove to loosen the skin and then peeling with your fingers or a paring knife.
Step 2
Split the whole cloves and pick out the thin stem in the center-it's bitter; discard. Slice or mince the garlic.
Step 3
Heat the butter or oil, add the garlic and cook gently at low temperature until lightly browned.
A chopped herbs and crushed, black pepper,
Step 4
Place the baguettes slices, dipped in garlic butter, onto a sheet tray and bake at 350° F until golden brown on top and bottom- enjoy.
