SERVES 6 TO 8
Plan to pull the garlic bread from the oven when you are ready to serve the other dishes—it is best served piping hot.
9–10 |
medium garlic cloves, unpeeled |
6 |
tablespoons (¾ stick) unsalted butter, softened |
2 |
tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese |
½ |
teaspoon table salt |
1 |
(1-pound) loaf high-quality Italian bread (preferably football-shaped), halved horizontally |
Ground black pepper |
1. Adjust an oven rack to the middle position and heat the oven to 500 degrees. Meanwhile, toast the garlic cloves in a small skillet over medium heat, shaking the pan occasionally, until fragrant and the color of the cloves deepens slightly, about 8 minutes. When cool enough to handle, peel and mince the cloves (you should have about 3 tablespoons). Using a dinner fork, mash the garlic, butter, cheese, and salt in a small bowl until thoroughly combined.
2. Spread the cut sides of the loaf evenly with the butter mixture; season with pepper to taste. Transfer the loaf halves, buttered side up, onto a rimmed baking sheet; bake, reversing the position of the baking sheet in the oven from front to back halfway through the baking time, until the surface of the bread is golden brown and toasted, 5 to 10 minutes. Cut each half into 2-inch slices; serve immediately.