How to Make Advanced Garlic Bread

Like most people I like good Italian food. What I, and definitely my wife, really can get into a good piece of garlic bread. Garlic bread seems to set off even the best pasta meal. It's a great side, but if you can work it, it can make a great meal! Yes, can you imagine garlic bread as a meal? I'm not talking about a light snack either, I mean a hearty meal. Let me explain.

First, you have to have the right kind of bread. You can really do some experimentation here... most people will probably use Italian bread or a French baguette, but try using a sourdough roll, or if you really want to play around with options, try slices of rye bread or pumpernickel perhaps. The key to making this work is experimentation. If it doesn't work, then try something else, either way don't be afraid to try new things with this garlic bread.

Now, that we have our bread in place, let's look into your cheese options. If you're sitting there saying, "he's about to put cheese on his garlic bread?" the answer is YES. I told you this wasn't your average piece of garlic bread! Now follow with me. As far as cheeses, I recommend starting with Parmesan or a Parmesan-Reggiano cheese. I'm not all that fond of Romano cheese but it could possibly work. A good Asiago cheese might do the trick as well. Keep some handy but don't put it on your bread just yet. By the way, if you can get it fresh and grated that's even better! I don't mean grated to powder, grated, I mean grated finely but where you can still taste it.

I got ahead of myself just a bit (excited is more like it); let's work on what goes on top of the bread. Get a good extra virgin olive oil and put some in a skillet. In that skillet will go fresh garlic (roasted if you like is fine), minced preferably. I know some rub garlic on the bread but I want to have the chunks of minced garlic that you can actually taste when you put it in your mouth. Also add some Italian seasoning to this skillet. Your trinity of Italian seasonings will suffice here - oregano, thyme, and rosemary. Let it heat up for a few minutes but don't let the garlic burn. When done, spread evenly onto your garlic bread slices.

Now, get some tomato and slice them up somewhat thin. Make sure to cover the entire piece of bread with tomato slices. I'd recommend seasoning the tomato just a bit with salt and pepper, maybe some crushed red pepper if you like it a little spicy. Do not use tomato chunks or sauce for this, you need fresh tomatoes otherwise it won't work the same way. If you can swing it, tear up some fresh basil leaves and place directly on top of the tomato slices. You'll be fine without them, but it adds an extra kick to your garlic bread. And yes, this is still garlic bread.

Now, we can come back around to the cheese. Place the grated cheese over the tomato evenly across the slice of bread. If you have it, place slices of provolone on top, just one layer though. You don't want to overpower the bread with cheese. Once you're done with these things, add some more seasonings to the top... some more minced garlic... and there you have it, advanced garlic bread. Place it in the broiler (you thought I was going to say oven didn't you) on low heat for a few minutes, just until the cheese melts, but not too long where your bread can get too hard.

I know, I know... I talked about making a meal out of garlic bread, and I stand by that. What I gave you was the core of making garlic bread. You can do much more with it though. If you want to make a tomato based sauce, you could cut up the garlic bread and make bruschetta. If you need some meat with your garlic bread, heat up some pepperoni or capicola (or both), sauté some mushrooms and make subs or paninis with your garlic bread. My point is garlic bread isn't just smeared butter with garlic seasoning on some thick slice of bread. You have a ton of options. I'd love to hear what you do with your garlic bread. Leave me a comment if you have any other ideas for how to enhance garlic bread, otherwise, happy eating!