Garlic Bread

[jinet12]

I am designated to make and bring garlic bread to a dinner tonight...Any suggestions of how to make a really great one?

[jrhsfcm]

My boyfriend refers to my garlic bread as "crack bread." I suppose he likes it. ;)

Mix together:
1 stick butter, room temp. and 1 head roasted garlic

Add:
5-7 cloves of garlic, finely minced
1 T fresh parsley, finely minced
a few shakes of cayenne pepper
salt & pepper

I use a substantial bread like an Italian loaf, sourdough, etc. Cut length-wise to create a long "top" and "bottom" half. Equally spread the mixture on both sides, and then place together. Wrap in foil and put in oven 375-400. Bake for approximately 15 minutes. Remove from oven, unwrap from foil, and separate sections. Lay sections, buttered sides up, on foil and put under the broiler until lightly browned. (I find the two stage cooking allows the bread to become moist with the butter mixture but still creating a brown crust on the bread).

[operagirl]

Wow, that looks like the ultimate amalgam of everything that's good about garlic bread. Between the roasted and fresh garlic, baking and broiling, and cayenne for kick, I think you've got all of us beat. Can't wait to try it out!

[bitsubeats]

mine is realy really easy.

I slice some pieces of baguette, drizzle each slice with olive oil, throw into a 400 F oven for about 10 mins, and when it comes out you rub each slice with a garlic clove.

simple and delicious

[damadchef]

I agree with bitsubeats, but i like grilling the bread for that really crusty surface on which to scrape the garlic clove. To up the ante, after rubbing the garlic on the olive-oil grilled bread, cut a tomato in half & rub it on the bread - then top with preffered cheese & return to grill on upper rack to melt.

[bitsubeats]

wow the tomato thing sounds great. I'm going to have to try that tomorrow with dinner. thanks

oh and the great thing about my method and damadchef's method is that you only need to use one garlic clove or less for enough bread for 3-4 people

[Ruth Lafler]

Mine's even simpler: I bought some garlic cooking spray (a good one without a lot of icky ingredients); butter the bread, spray, toast (or toast and spray to taste).

[jinet12]

Wow, thanks for all the great suggestions...I was running short on time, so I bought this expensive "mix" already done, and when I went to put it on the fresh Italian bread, it tasted horribly salty...I quickly minced some garlic and Italian parsley, using my new mini Cuisinart food processor, and then added some Parmesan cheese, some softened butter, unsalted, and drizzled in a little extra virgin olive oil, and it turned out very, very well...Next time, with more time, I fully intend to try it with the roasted garlic...

[chowser]

I heat olive oil on low, add chopped garlic until it starts getting toasty, then add butter. Brush over cut loaf, add parmesan cheese, parsley, salt. Bake 350 until done.

[mmalmad]

I made some last week, and used a microplane for the garlic instead of mincing it. It was great. Butter garlic balck pepper and parsley

[toodie jane]

microplaning garlic....brilliant!

[Louise]

Microplanes are great. Among other things they reduce garlic to a fine and evenly textured paste.

My dark secret...I'm happy with that cheap and nasty greasy supermarket garlic bread. You know, with the paprika. Several times with XBF that and a couple of cocktails were dinner.

[operagirl]

My friends go nuts for my garlic bread. What I do is:

Roast a head or two of garlic -- however much you need for the amount of garlic bread you're planning to make. Then, mash it into some room-temperature butter, add in a couple handfuls of grated parmesan cheese, a handful of chopped parsley, and some salt and pepper. Spread over the halved baguettes, and bake at 375 until it's bubbly and golden. I know these amounts are really vague but, it's a pretty hard "recipe" to mess up regardless of the proportions!

[QueenB]

This is the perfect way to make garlic bread. The roasted garlic lends so much depth and flavor. Just make sure your parmesan (or romano, as I use) is freshly grated. None of that green can stuff!

[macca]

I agree- that recipe is perfect- Another good one: roasted garlic, mash into room temp butter- add grated parmesan, parsley and a bit of olive oil. Onto the baguette, and bake til crispy. So good- though I think your recipe is a bit more figure friendly:}

[Val]

We've been using this recipe from Epicurious for a few years now and we love it...the only thing I do a little differently is cut back on the butter and use more olive oil BUT do as you please...I also add a sprinkle of grated romano or parmesan after opening the foil and putting it back in the oven:

http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/rec...

[paulgardner]

you may want to go to recipezaar.com and look up the favorites by people's ratings (people try the recipes and then rate them).