World Class Garlic Bread Recipes

THE WORLD'S BEST ROASTED GARLIC BREAD

Steps:

• In a large bowl or in the bowl of your stand mixer, stir together the water, yeast, and sugar. Set aside for about ten minutes, or until foamy.
• Add the salt, garlic powder, and 1 tablespoon olive oil to the yeast mixture and stir to combine.
• If using a mixer, use the dough hook attachment and add the flour about 1/2 cup at a time. Continuing adding flour until the dough pulls away from the edge of the bowl and is just a little sticky to touch. Knead with the dough hook on low speed for about five minutes. To knead by hand, stir in flour 1/2 cup at a time until it becomes to difficult to stir. Turn the dough onto a well-floured surface and continue to knead in the flour a bit at a time, until barely sticky to the touch.
• Oil a large bowl with a little olive oil. Add the dough to the bowl and turn to coat. Cover with plastic wrap and leave in a warm place to rise until doubled, about an hour to an hour and a half.
• While the dough is rising, roast the garlic. Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C). Arrange the garlic cloves on a piece of foil large enough to wrap around them. Pour 2 tablespoons olive oil over the cloves and wrap the foil tightly around them. Bake for 15-20 minutes, or until cloves are just soft. Roughly dice the cloves.
• After dough has risen, punch it down. Move one oven rack to the bottom of the oven, another to the middle. Preheat oven to 425°F (218°C). Lightly oil and flour a baking sheet.
• On a lightly floured surface, knead the garlic cloves into the dough. Form the dough into a loaf on the baking sheet. Cover and let rise until almost doubled, about 45 minutes to an hour.
• Once risen, lightly sprinkle the top with flour. Using a sharp knife, make three diagonal slits in the loaf.
• Place an empty rimmed baking sheet on the bottom rack in the oven. Place the baking sheet with the shaped dough on the middle rack. Before closing the oven door, pour 1/2 cup water onto the empty sheet pan on the bottom rack. Close the oven door quickly to trap the steam. Bake for 15-20 minutes, or until golden brown.

THE BEST GARLIC BREAD

Steps:

• Arrange a rack in the center of oven and preheat to 450 degrees F.
• Melt the butter in a small skillet over medium heat. Add the garlic and cook, stirring occasionally, until the butter is golden and the garlic is very fragrant, about 3 minutes.
• Slice the bread in half lengthwise. Liberally brush the crust with the garlic butter. Turn the bread cut-side up. Slice each loaf crosswise at 2-inch intervals without cutting all the way through, making "pull-apart" garlic bread. Liberally brush the cut sides of the bread with more garlic butter, spreading any remaining garlic evenly over top. You should use all the garlic butter. Carefully transfer the bread to a rimmed baking sheet.
• Sprinkle the loaves with the Parmesan and a pinch of salt and bake until the edges of the bread are a deep golden brown, 10 to 15 minutes. Top with the parsley. Serve warm.

WORLD-CLASS GARLIC BREAD

Steps:

• Peel and smash the garlic with the smooth face of a tenderizer mallet, the flat of a large knife or similar tool. Set aside.
• In a heavy-bottomed sauce pan, melt the butter over medium-low heat. Simmer the butter and watch the bubbles. When the bubbles change from larger, steamy bubbles to small bubbles that don't give off steam, the butter is ready. (You've just basically clarified your butter but not strained out the solids.).
• Turn the heat to low and add the garlic. Simmer slowly until the garlic begins to brown and is very fragrant. This can take 10 to 20 minutes.
• Remove from the heat.
• Slice the bread on a diagonal and dip one side in the butter mixture, or if you want less fat, you can paint it by brushing the butter on one side.
• Salt your bread according to your personal taste.
• Toast the bread by any one of three methods: broil, grill or pan fry. (We're fans of broiling personally, but all three methods can yield delicious results.) Cook the buttered side by your favorite method until golden brown.
• Serve immediately.

WORLD'S BEST GARLIC BREAD

Steps:

• Smoke garlic (see related recipe) and cool to room temperature.
• Preheat the oven to 400ºF. Blend the garlic, Parmesan, butter, parsley, and olive oil in a food processor fitted with a metal blade until the garlic is finely chopped. Taste and season with salt & pepper.
• Split the bread lengthwise with a bread knife. Spread the garlic butter over the cut sides of both halves and set the bread buttered side up on a baking sheet. Scatter the onion slices evenly over the bread and press then gently to they stick to the garlic butter. Bake until the crust is crackling crisp and the tops are lightly browned, about 12 minutes. Cool slightly before slicing and serving.