Description
Ina Garten’s garlic bread emerges as a classic side dish packed with robust flavors and simple ingredients. Crisp, herbed toast complements many meals, offering a delightful companion you’ll want to savor alongside pasta or salad.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 crusty French baguette (20 to 24-inch-long)
- 1 head garlic, cloves separated and peeled
- 1 cup freshly grated Italian Parmesan cheese
- 12 tbsps (170 g) unsalted butter
- 2 tbsps minced fresh parsley
- 2 tsps grated lemon zest
- ¼ tsp crushed red pepper flakes
- Kosher salt
- Freshly ground black pepper
- Fleur de sel or sea salt
Instructions
- Preparation: Preheat the oven to 450°F (232°C), positioning the rack in the center for even heat distribution.
- Infusion: Melt butter in a small saucepan over low heat, adding peeled garlic cloves. Cover and simmer for 20 minutes, then cool slightly. Mash garlic into the butter until smooth and fragrant.
- Flavor Enhancement: Incorporate Parmesan cheese, parsley, lemon zest, red pepper flakes, kosher salt, and black pepper into the garlic butter. Mix thoroughly to create a uniform, aromatic spread.
- Bread Preparation: Slice the French baguette lengthwise, then make diagonal cuts across each half without completely separating the sections, allowing for optimal butter absorption.
- Butter Application: Generously spread the seasoned garlic butter into the bread’s cuts and surfaces, ensuring complete coverage and flavor penetration.
- Baking: Place the prepared baguette halves on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Bake for 5-7 minutes until the edges turn golden brown and crisp, creating a crunchy exterior.
- Serving: Remove from the oven, slice into portions, and sprinkle with fleur de sel. Serve hot, showcasing the bread’s rich, garlicky profile and inviting texture.
Notes
- Infuse Garlic Carefully: Slow-cook garlic in butter for maximum flavor depth without burning, creating a mellow, rich base that transforms ordinary bread into a gourmet experience.
- Cut Strategically: Make diagonal cuts without separating bread sections, allowing garlic butter to penetrate deeply and ensuring every bite is packed with intense, savory goodness.
- Watch Baking Closely: Monitor bread for 5-7 minutes to achieve perfect golden-crisp exterior, preventing burning while guaranteeing a crunchy, delectable texture.
- Season Thoughtfully: Sprinkle fleur de sel or sea salt after baking to enhance final flavor profile, adding a subtle crunch and sophisticated finishing touch.
- Prep Time: 25 minutes
- Cook Time: 7 minutes
- Category: Snacks, Dinner
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 5
- Calories: 310
- Sugar: 1 g
- Sodium: 640 mg
- Fat: 28 g
- Saturated Fat: 17 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 19 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 7 g
- Cholesterol: 60 mg