My Favorite Garlic Bread

I feel like garlic bread is like wine in that everyone loves it, but discerning good from bad is truly a personal preference. I learned this basic technique from Bobbie Pirrie when I was in high school and over the years have expanded upon it. This technique involves sautéing garlic and seasonings in olive oil and butter, then dipping the sliced bread into the butter garlic mixture.

Ingredients

1 French or Italian loaf of bread

1 stick of unsalted butter

I/2 cup of olive oil

2 teaspoons of Italian seasoning

4-6 cloves of fresh garlic minced or crushed (fresh preferred)

1 shallot minced or 1/2 small onion

1 pinch of crushed red pepper

1/4 cup of white wine

salt and pepper

1/2 cup of grated parmesan

Preparation (15-20 minutes prep, 15-20 minutes baking)

Using your cutting board with a towel, mince up your garlic and shallot

Mincing garlic

Slice your bread on a bias about 3/4 inch thick.

Slicing bread on a bias about an inch thick

After slicing the bread, place on baking sheet. No need for baking spray or parchment because the butter and olive oil from the bread will prevent sticking to the pan.

Placing sliced bread on baking sheet

In a medium sauté pan, add olive oil and butter and let the butter fully melt

Butter and olive oil melting in pan over medium heat

Add the minced shallot

Adding minced shallot to the butter and olive oil mixture

Add the minced garlic

Adding the minced garlic to the butter and olive oil mixture

Add Italian seasoning

Adding the Italian seasoning to the butter and olive oil mixture

Add red pepper flakes

Adding red pepper flakes to the butter and olive oil mixture

Add white wine, bring to rolling simmer and turn it off

Adding white wine to the mixture

Let the mixture cool to the touch. At this time you should be smelling the garlic. Once the liquid has cooled, take your sliced bread from the baking sheet and dip one side into the garlic butter mixture and then place it back on the baking sheet with dipped side up. Repeat until all of the pieces are dipped and placed on baking sheet.

Dipping the bread in the warm butter mixture

Now with a small spoon, gather about 1/4 spoonful of the cooked bits from the bottom of the sauté pan and spread it on the dipped side of the bread. Repeat until all of the remainder of cooked bits are evenly spread on the bread pieces.

Getting a spoonful of the mixture from the pan

Spooning the pan bits onto the garlic bread on the baking sheet

Place your baking sheet full of bread in the oven at 400 degrees for 8-10 minutes.

Remove the baking sheet and spread the grated parmesan equally on each piece.

Place back in the oven for 5 minutes.

Turn oven on broil, let the bread get crispy for 1 to 3 minutes until they are just past golden brown. By this time your house should have the aroma of delicious garlic bread.

Remove from the oven, let cool to warm, then enjoy with your meal. This bread is great the next day as well.

Served with red beans and rice

Bon Appetit!