How to Make Simple Garlic Bread

Simple garlic bread makes a great accompaniment for pasta.

Even though you can easily prepare garlic bread that you get from your grocer’s freezer section, homemade garlic bread can be even more delicious and not that much more time consuming. This recipe is really semi-homemade, as it uses a pre-baked loaf of French bread as its base. Making your own garlic bread also allows you to make it as pungent and garlicky as you’d like. This recipe works well as an accompaniment to an Italian meal or as an appetizer before a main course.

Things You'll Need

• French bread loaf
• 1 head garlic, peeled
• 4 tbsp. butter
• Chopped parsley (to garnish)
• Olive oil
• Salt (pinch)
• Pepper (pinch)

Instructions

1. Take the butter out and let it soften at room temperature.

2. Drizzle the garlic with olive oil in a microwave- or oven-safe container.

3. Sprinkle the garlic with salt and pepper.

4. Microwave the garlic for one to two minutes in a loosely covered container. If preparing in the oven, bake the garlic in a small baking dish for 35 to 45 minutes, or until soft.

5. Remove the cooked garlic. Mash the garlic with a spoon or fork. Let it stand for a couple of minutes.

6. Fold the garlic into the butter and add a couple of pinches of parsley into garlic butter. Mix to create a garlic butter, but do not overmix or else the butter will melt.

7. Slice the loaf of French bread in half, lengthwise.

8. Spread garlic butter on the bread.

9. Sprinkle a little more parsley on the bread to garnish for some color.

10. Toast the bread in the oven to your liking. Check it every five minutes or so and remove once it browns.

Tips & Warnings

• As mentioned in Step 4, if microwaving, be sure to COVER THE CONTAINER with a lid (just place on top, don't enclose), plastic wrap, or a napkin. OIL WILL POP IN MICROWAVE.

References

• Food Network: Garlic Bread; Rachael Ray