homemade garlic bread with regular bread

Garlic bread is one of those classic dishes that is served as an appetizer or side dish in many restaurants and homes. Nothing beats the combination of garlic, butter, and toasted bread. But if you want to make it at home, it can be a challenge to get the flavors just right. Luckily, it's easier than you think! Here's how to make homemade garlic bread using regular bread.

Choosing the Right Bread

The first step to making garlic bread is to choose the right bread. Regular sandwich bread is usually too soft and will not give you the crunchy, toasted texture you need for garlic bread. Look for a loaf of crusty French or Italian bread. If you can't find either of these, look for a hearty sourdough bread. The key is to get a bread with a crunchy crust and a soft interior.

Making the Garlic Butter

The most important part of garlic bread is the garlic butter. Start by melting a few tablespoons of butter in a small saucepan. Once the butter is melted, add a few cloves of minced garlic and a pinch of salt. Cook the mixture over low heat for a few minutes, stirring occasionally, until the garlic is fragrant and lightly golden. Turn off the heat and set aside to cool.

Assembling the Garlic Bread

Once your garlic butter is ready, it's time to assemble the garlic bread. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Slice the loaf of bread into 1-inch thick slices. Spread each slice with a generous amount of the garlic butter. Place the slices on a baking sheet and bake for 10-15 minutes, until the edges of the bread are golden brown and the garlic butter is bubbling. Serve immediately.

Tips and Variations

For an extra garlicky kick, you can add a few tablespoons of freshly grated Parmesan cheese to the garlic butter before spreading it on the bread. You can also add a sprinkle of herbs, such as parsley or oregano, to the garlic butter for a flavor boost. If you want to make a cheesy garlic bread, spread the garlic butter on the bread and then top with grated cheese. Bake until the cheese is melted and bubbly.

Frequently Asked Questions

What Is the Best Bread for Garlic Bread?

The best bread for garlic bread is a crusty French or Italian bread. If you can't find either of these, look for a hearty sourdough bread. The key is to get a bread with a crunchy crust and a soft interior.

How Do You Make Garlic Butter?

To make garlic butter, melt a few tablespoons of butter in a small saucepan. Once the butter is melted, add a few cloves of minced garlic and a pinch of salt. Cook the mixture over low heat for a few minutes, stirring occasionally, until the garlic is fragrant and lightly golden. Turn off the heat and set aside to cool.

How Do You Assemble Garlic Bread?

Once your garlic butter is ready, it's time to assemble the garlic bread. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Slice the loaf of bread into 1-inch thick slices. Spread each slice with a generous amount of the garlic butter. Place the slices on a baking sheet and bake for 10-15 minutes, until the edges of the bread are golden brown and the garlic butter is bubbling. Serve immediately.

Can You Add Cheese to Garlic Bread?

Yes, you can add cheese to garlic bread. For a cheesy garlic bread, spread the garlic butter on the bread and then top with grated cheese. Bake until the cheese is melted and bubbly.

What Other Ingredients Can You Add to Garlic Bread?

For an extra garlicky kick, you can add a few tablespoons of freshly grated Parmesan cheese to the garlic butter before spreading it on the bread. You can also add a sprinkle of herbs, such as parsley or oregano, to the garlic butter for a flavor boost.