Regardless of the ingredients in your entrée, a toasted loaf of garlic bread will complement your meal and provide a hearty alternative to a dinner roll or other soft bread. Although French and Italian breads may vary in form, the ingredients and baking process are similar, with the exception of an occasional tablespoon of sugar added to the Italian recipe. While toasted garlic bread is easy to prepare, it requires careful watching to prevent burning. To reheat your leftover garlic bread, sprinkle the slices with water, lightly cover with foil and place in a warm oven for 10 minutes.
Step 1
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
Step 2
Blend the butter and minced garlic together in a small bowl.
Step 3
Slice the bread in half, vertically, or from end to end.
Step 4
Use the spatula to spread the garlic butter on both bread halves, and arrange the bread butter side up in the baking pan.
Step 5
Place the pan on the center shelf of the oven and bake the bread until the butter melts and the edges begin to brown, about 7 minutes.
Step 6
Remove the baking pan from the oven and allow the bread to cool for 3 or 4 minutes.
Step 7
Place the loaf halves on a cutting board and cut into 1½-inch slices.
Step 8
Return the slices to the baking pan and place in the oven.
Step 9
Turn the oven to broil, and with the door ajar, broil the bread for approximately 2 minutes, or until the bread slices are golden and toasted.
Step 10
Remove the bread slices from the oven and arrange on a serving plate or napkin-lined basket. Serve immediately.
Tips and Warnings
- For color and added flavor, sprinkle your freshly baked garlic bread with leaf parsley, fresh basil or oregano. If your garlic bread comes in a foil wrapped bag, warm the bread according to directions, unwrap, and slide it under the broiler to crisp for 2 or 3 minutes. For a healthier version of garlic bread, substitute extra virgin olive oil for the organic butter.
Things You'll Need
- 1 loaf of fresh, Italian or French bread
- Small bowl
- 1 stick of organic butter, softened
- 4 garlic cloves, peeled and minced
- Spatula
- Heavy duty baking pan
- Chopped fresh parsley, fresh basil or fresh oregano leaf
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