American•comfort

Ciabatta Garlic Bread

This is the perfect combination of crunchy crust with a soft and tender inside together with the unbeatable flavor of garlic butter.

Ingredients

1 ciabatta loaf
1/2 cup salted butter
4 garlic cloves
2 tbsp finely grated Parmesan cheese (plus extra for sprinkling over hot garlic bread)
2 tbsp finely chopped flat leaf parsley
1/8 tsp fine salt

1
Preheat oven to 425ºF/220ºC and have a large baking sheet ready.
2
Slice the ciabatta in half lengthwise and place cut side up on the baking sheet.
3
Peel and chop garlic cloves finely. Sprinkle with salt then use the flat blade of the knife to crush the chopped garlic. Work your way across the pile of garlic then scrape it all together and repeat. Do this several times until the garlic is a fine paste.
4
In a small mixing bowl, combine butter, minced garlic, Parmesan cheese and parsley.
5
Using a palette knife or similar, spread the butter mixture in a thin and even layer across the cut side of both halves of bread.
6
Place the bread, cut side up, on a baking sheet and bake for 10–15 minutes, or until the butter has melted and the bread is lightly golden. Remove from the oven and immediately sprinkle with extra grated Parmesan cheese. Cut into 2 inch (5 cm) slices and serve hot.