Garlic Bread Recipe

Today’s garlic bread recipe is exactly what you need for a last-minute side dish. It can be done in 10 minutes with some simple available ingredients in your pantry.

This bread comes out scrumptious with garlicky flavor, complements everything else on the menu. Let’s take a closer look at how to make it and some helpful tips to master this classic, delicious bread once and for all.

Is Garlic Bread Healthy?

Garlic bread contains baguette, butter, and seasonings, making it full of calories, carbohydrates, saturated fat, and sodium. However, there are several ways we can make it a bit healthier:

• Limit the butter: Butter is the key element that impacts the saturated fats level in the recipe. We cut down the fat to ½ tablespoon for each serving— 4 slices of bread. This ratio ensures the bread is creamy and tasty while not exceeding your recommended fat intake.
• Omit the salt: Salt doesn’t contain in our recipe, however, there is still a small quantity of sodium from bread. Taking too much sodium for a long time increases the risks of some serious conditions such as high blood pressure or stomach cancer.
• Increase the fiber: An easy way to improve the fiber content in your garlic bread is to use whole wheat bread instead of the regular white. However, noted that whole wheat bread comes with whole grains, resulting in a coarser texture.

If you prefer the texture of white bread, the following is a list of some alternatives.

Best Bread for Garlic Bread

Garlic bread can be made using any type of bread. The choice depends on personal preference and expectation.

1. French Bread

French bread— aka baguette—is a long, thin loaf of bread that is made from lean dough. This type, with a crisp exterior and soft interior, is our favorite type of bread.

2. Sliced Bread

Sliced bread is a loaf of bread that has been sliced with a machine for convenience. In terms of taste, there is no big difference between using French bread or white sliced bread for garlic bread.

However, French bread tends to be more crispy than sliced bread. If you’re having a hard time finding French toast, the regular white sliced bread can be a nice alternative.

3. Italian Bread

Italian bread, or focaccia, is a flat oven-baked bread that has a similar texture to the pizza. Since focaccia is pretty thick, it offers a tender center with cake-like sponginess.

Garlic bread, made from this Italian bread, promises a crispy texture on the outside, but fluffy inside.

You can always make a great piece of garlic bread using any form of bread, however, avoid flavored bread since they don’t go well with garlic. It’s also important to note that the density of bread will result in different textures.

Garlic Bread Ingredients

The ingredients of garlic bread are simple. Here is everything you need:

• Bread: French toast or Italian loaf are our favorite types of bread. They are not too crusty on the outside and have a nice soft center that can hold the butter well during baking.
• Butter: For the best result, the butter should be softened at room temperature before using. A quick tip to do that is to cut the butter into small cubes, this size allows the butter to soften faster than the whole stick.
  We also use unsalted butter to limit the sodium level. Apart from that, unsalted butter allows you to control the saltiness of the finished baked goods easier.
• Garlic: The amount of garlic in the recipe can be increased or decreased depending on how garlicky you want. Just chopped them finely so that you don’t bite into a big chunk of garlic.
  Prepping garlic is not a heavy job to do, but in case you want to buy some time of preparation, minced or crushed garlic can be easily found at the supermarket.
• Herbs: For a pungent flavor garlic bread, finish off your bread with a touch of fresh parsley and thyme. If you subtitle fresh herbs for dried and double the suggested amount.
• Pepper: The best garlic bread is the one that is seasoned well in a proper way. We add a generous pinch of ground pepper to the butter mixture before slathering it on the bread. This way the seasoning is ensured to remain beautifully in each slice.

How to Make Garlic Bread

Soft or Toasty Garlic Bread Recipe

There are several ways to make and twist your garlic bread depending on how you want to enjoy it, soft or toasty. Those methods are slightly different:

• Toasty garlic bread: To create a crispy exterior, cut the bread into 1-inch slices, spread with butter and garlic. Then bake them open-faced in the oven until crunchy and the bread has irresistible golden edges.
• Soft garlic bread: Cut the bread almost all the way through, once done the loaf should look like an accordion. Then slather the butter mixture between slices. Wrap the bread in foil before baking it in the oven. The foil wrapper will help to keep the bread soft while infusing the garlic and herbs flavor in each slice.

Tips for the Best Garlic Bread

• Prep garlic: Garlic has the most strong aroma in its raw form. For that reason, many people love to cook it in some way, which mellows the flavor considerably. 
  For this garlic bread recipe, fresh garlic is stir-fried in hot butter until fragrant, resulting in a creamy texture with an irresistible nutty taste.

• The herbs: You can combine some additional herbs in the recipe to complement the flavor experience. Parsley is the most common option since it garnishes the dish with the vibrant green color while bringing a pop of freshness.

What to Serve with Garlic Bread

This delicious and easy-to-make bread can turn any meal into a special occasion. Part of the reason comes from the way it naturally complements any dishes on the table.

1. Pasta

In a hearty Italian style dinner, garlic bread is served with pasta, tomato-infused meatballs, and a green salad. This class meal offers a fulfilling and well-balanced combo consisting of protein, carbs, and green vegetables.

2. Soup

Garlic bread is a classic accompaniment to any hearty soup. The crunchy texture offers a nice contrast to silky soup, giving a satisfying experience.If you are in the mood for a soup to pair with garlic bread, check out our pumpkin soup and split pea soup. They are both easy to make and delicious to satisfy even the pickiest soup lovers.

FAQ

1. How Long to Cook Garlic Bread?

With 1-2 inches sliced bread, we place them in the middle rack and bake at 400°F for about 5 minutes. If your bread comes to different sizes, adjust the cooking time a bit for the best result.

2. How Long Does Garlic Bread Last?

Since the homemade garlic bread doesn’t contain any preservatives, it is best to be consumed within the 12 first hours. If you don’t finish your garlic bread, store them in the refrigerator for longer usage.

Bread remains moist in the refrigerator if stored properly. To do so, place your bread in a zip-lock bag which can reduce air exposure. This way the bread can stay fresh for up to 3-4 days.

3. Can You Freeze Garlic Bread?

Yes, and the method is simple. Starting by cool your garlic bread at room temperature, then wrap it in foil by putting two butter-side together. Then place them in the freezer bag. 

When it’s time to reheat, take the garlic bread out of the freezer to thaw completely. Place the foil-wrapped bread in the oven and bake until it’s heated through. You can open the wrapper and foil for another 1-2 minutes for even a crisper texture.