How To Make Garlic Bread
Just about everyone, at one time or another, has stopped at the grocery store on the way home from work to pick up some garlic bread for dinner, but once you know how to make garlic bread yourself, you will never want to eat the store-bought kind again.
That’s because homemade garlic bread tastes so much better and it very easy to make. While most people make garlic bread with butter, it can also be made with oil for a different taste and a few less fat calories. There is nothing like freshly roasted garlic to make the ultimate garlic bread, but not to worry if you don’t have the time, minced or pressed garlic will also taste great.
There is actually much passionate disagreement among people as to which is better to use when you learn how to make garlic bread: Italian bread or French bread. If you don’t automatically have a cultural preference, you should try both and see which you prefer. The truth is, you will probably love the taste of both.
While, you can make garlic bread using a loaf of just about any kind of bread, the type that is fresh baked is going to taste the best. So, let’s say you chose to buy a loaf of freshly baked Italian bread. With that, you will need approximately four tablespoons of butter or olive oil, four garlic cloves--pressed, roasted or minced, a little salt and pepper, any herbs you like, such as basil, parsley, chives, or even cayenne pepper, and if you wish, grated cheese.
If you are learning how to make garlic bread for the first time, you will need to decide if you want the bread to be crispy or if you just want it to be oven heated. Either way, start by slicing your loaf of bread down the middle into two halves. Then mix together in a bowl, the butter, spices and garlic. You can use softened butter or you can heat the butter so that it is totally melted.
With a wide knife, spread the butter garlic mixture onto the bread. How liberally or conservatively you do this may depend if you are counting your calories and fat content or are ready to just let it all go this time and really spread it so that the butter and garlic is extra thick. Extra thick is preferred by most garlic lovers.
Finally, bake the bread at 350 degrees for 15 minutes. For a softer bread, put it in a baking pan, for a crisper bread, place it directly on the oven rack. You can also make garlic bread by heating it on your grill.