What is Garlic Bread? Where Does It Come From?
Garlic bread is a popular appetizer or side dish made from bread typically a baguette or Italian loaf. Spread with a mixture of butter, garlic, and often herbs such as parsley, it is toasted or baked until warm and crispy. This timeless dish has its roots in Italian cuisine, but has become a beloved staple in many restaurants and households around the world.
Origins
Garlic bread has its roots in Italian cuisine, where similar preparations of bread with garlic and olive oil have been enjoyed for centuries. The dish as we know it today, particularly in the form of buttered garlic bread, became popular in the United States, especially in Italian-American communities. It is commonly served with pasta dishes and is a staple in many pizzerias and Italian restaurants. Perhaps surprisingly, it is not a traditional Italian dish—it is essentially an Italian-American invention, a culinary creation by Italian immigrants in the U.S.
Variations
The variations of garlic bread are endless, with grated cheese, different herbs, or spices sometimes added. The dish has been adapted in various cuisines, leading to unique interpretations that reflect local ingredients and flavors. For instance, in some Latin American countries, garlic bread is often made with a spicy cheese sauce, while in some Asian countries, it might be served with a soy-based sauce.
A How-to Guide to Making Your Own Garlic Bread
Making garlic bread at home is surprisingly simple. Start with a nice piece of bread, cut into slices. The BEST choice is a long baguette, loaf of Italian or French bread, or even a crusty loaf of sourdough bread—something that is crusty on the outside but soft and spongy on the inside, as this allows the bread to absorb the melted garlic butter.
Cut the baguette into about half-inch slices, cut on a slight diagonal to its length if it isn’t already pre-sliced by the store. In a small bowl, take several tablespoons of real cow’s unsalted butter, not margarine, and work it, pushing it down into the bowl repeatedly with a dinner knife to make it softer and more spreadable and pliable.
Crush the fresh garlic cloves in a garlic press or finely cut them up to extract their juice. Mix the pulp AND juice together in the butter, stirring it thoroughly until the flavor of garlic is completely infused. If you don’t have fresh garlic, use 1/2 tablespoon or more of dried garlic powder, not garlic salt, and mix thoroughly until the butter is spreadable. Fresh garlic is best!
Spread this now garlic-flavored butter on only one side of each piece of bread. Place each slice one level deep, butter side up, on a flat metal tray like a large cookie sheet or a jelly roll pan. Alternatively, place the slices on the little metal pan that comes with a toaster oven, or line the tray with aluminum foil for easier cleanup. Bake at 350°F for several 4-5 minutes, watching it through the oven window to prevent it from burning. Cook until the butter melts into the bread and the bread turns a light golden yellow, with a little bit of crusty golden toasted brown around the edges. When it smells delicious, it's done!
For an extra touch, add a little sprinkle of grated Parmesan cheese or Kraft’s 3-cheese blend of grated Parmesan, Asiago, and Romano, and a pinch of dried parsley flakes before baking. This makes for a more restaurant-quality garlic bread! Serve with any Italian dish as a side dish to the main course, especially delicious with spaghetti, lasagna, or other pasta dishes!
ENJOY your homemade garlic bread!