EASY GARLIC BREAD RECIPE

 
     There are several methods and twists for making Garlic Bread, the easiest method is rubbing a cut clove of garlic over toasted slices of Italian or French bread, and spreading the toast with olive oil or butter.
     Since having those Garlic Breadsticks from Pizza Hut, I was on a hunt to get perfectly toasted Garlic Bread.  On the run, I have come up with few easy methods of making Garlic bread at home.  Choose the method apt for your taste, depending on how you like your breadsticks, either soft/crispily toasted. Also, a good Garlic Bread recipe should neither be greasy or dry.  The main trick is to get the bread butter proportion perfect to suit your loaf.
     If you have Garlic Butter Spread ready in your hand, then the job would get much easier.  Garlic Butter spread is an easy recipe which can be incorporated into, within minutes at home. I usually prepared my own Garlic spread at home, a fresh batch every time I make Garlic Bread. Finely mince/ grind/smash few cloves of Garlic, just warm up Unsalted Butter and saute it along until raw flavour goes on a very low flame.  Add some Parsely/Chive or any herb to suit your whims and fancies to the Butter, there you go with a simple Garlic Butter spread. Can warm up the butter along with garlic and parsley in a microwave oven at high for 2-3 minutes.
     This easy Garlic Bread Recipe can be prepared with any type of bread, a normal Loaf of Bread, French Bread(Baguette).  Cut them into halves or into sticks, spread them with Garlic Butter Spread.
It can be grilled or broiled until toasted or baked in an Electric Oven or a Microwave Oven. If you do not have any of the above just toast them over a hot griddle.  I have given all three methods of cooking for perfectly toasted Garlic Bread Sticks.

Course : Appetiser/Starter
Difficulty : Easy
Serves : 3-4
Author : SM

Preparation Time : 20 - 30 Minutes
Cooking Time : 15 - 20 Minutes

INGREDIENTS :

Bread  - 1/2 Loaf
Unsalted Butter - 1/2 Cup
Garlic - 5-6 Cloves
Parsley/Chives - Few

METHOD :

For Garlic Butter Spread :

• Add Butter in a shallow pan and warm it up.
• Saute finely minced/ground/smashed Garlic Cloves in warm butter for few minutes or until raw flavour goes.
• Care should be taken not to burn the garlic cloves.  This will alter the taste of the garlic spread.
• Add finely chopped Parsley and switch off the flame.
• Can prepare this Garlic Spread ahead and store them in the refrigerator for up to a week and in a freezer for 2 months.

EASY GARLIC BREAD RECIPE :

 In an Electric Oven :

                                         Crispily Toasted

• Preheat oven to 350°F/180°C.
• Cut the bread into sticks or into any desired shape(Depending on the loaf used).
• Spread with Garlic Butter Parsley mixture over the breadsticks.
• Line them up on a Baking tray.
• And Toast them up for about 8-10 minutes.
• Flip the Bread Sticks and return to oven on the highest rack.
• Toast them for another  8-10 minutes until the edges begin to brown.
• Watch carefully while toasting the breadsticks, it can easily get burnt.
• Adjust the temperature accordingly and toast.
• Remove from Oven and Serve Garlic Bread immediately.

                                         Soft Garlic Bread

• Preheat oven to 350°F/180°C.
• Cut the Bread into the desired shape and Spread the Garlic butter parsley mix.
• Line them up on a Baking Tray.
• Wrap the Bread in aluminium foil and heat for 15 minutes in the oven.
• Remove the wrap and let it cool down for a minute.
• Serve hot.

In Microwave Oven :

• Cut the bread into sticks or into any desired shape(Depending on the loaf used).
• Spread with Garlic Butter Parsley mixture over the breadsticks.
• Line them up on a  microwave-safe plate.
• And Cook them on Microwave High for 30-40 Seconds.
• Flip the Bread Sticks and again cook for 30 Seconds until the edges begin to brown.
• Adjust the timing for Soft/ Crispily Toasted Garlic Bread Sticks.

Over a Griddle(Stove Top Method) :

• Heat a Griddle or nonstick pan over a medium flame.
• Line up the Breadsticks smeared with Garlic Butter Spread on the hot griddle.
• Cook them on a medium flame.
• Allow to brown or crisp on the first side for about 1 to 2 minutes.
• After browning, flip the bread and repeat the process on the second side. 
• Once done, remove the Garlic Bread Sticks from the griddle and serve them hot.

• Can use store bought Garlic Butter Spread for a quick fix.
• Garlic Powder can be substituted for Garlic cloves.
• Can use Olive Oil instead of Butter.
• Use any herb of your choice for the Garlic Butter Spread.
• Parsley, Chives and Basil serve well.
• Can warm up the butter along with garlic and parsley in a microwave oven at high for 2-3 minutes.  
• Can top the toasted Garlic Breadsticks with your choice of Cheese and bake until they melt.
• Adjust the time of cooking to get your choice of soft/crispily toasted Garlic Bread Sticks