Description
This pull-apart garlic bread features roasted garlic compound butter and a gooey cheese mixture. Roasting the garlic first changes the flavor profile from sharp to sweet and nutty, making it the perfect side dish for pasta night or family gatherings.
Ingredients
- ciabatta loaf, 1 large (14 oz or 400 g)
- unsalted butter, 1/2 cup (115 g) softened
- whole garlic head, 1
- olive oil, 2 tbsp
- shredded mozzarella cheese, 5 oz (140 g)
- grated Parmesan cheese, 1.8 oz (50 g)
- fresh parsley, 1/4 cup (15 g) chopped
- smoked paprika, 1 tsp
- sea salt, 1/2 tsp
- black pepper, 1/4 tsp
Instructions
- Roast Garlic Head: Preheat oven to 390°F (200°C). Slice the top quarter off the garlic head to expose cloves. Drizzle with 1 tbsp olive oil and 1/8 tsp salt. Wrap tightly in foil and roast for 30-40 minutes until cloves are soft. Mash the roasted garlic pulp with a fork after cooling.
- Slice Pull-Apart Loaf: Slice the ciabatta loaf horizontally at 1-inch (2.5 cm) intervals, making sure not to cut all the way through the bottom crust.
- Prepare Garlic Butter: In a medium bowl, combine the softened butter, the remaining 1 tbsp olive oil, 2 tbsp of the mashed roasted garlic, black pepper, and 1/8 tsp sea salt. Mix well until smooth.
- Assemble Cheese Mixture: In a separate bowl, combine the shredded mozzarella, grated Parmesan, 3/4 tsp smoked paprika, half of the chopped fresh parsley, and the remaining mashed roasted garlic.
- Stuff and Bake Loaf: Spread the garlic compound butter generously into the crevices of the sliced loaf, then stuff the cheese mixture into the same crevices. Place the loaf on a baking sheet and bake for 15-20 minutes, or until the bread is golden and the cheese is bubbly.
- Garnish and Serve: Let the loaf rest briefly. Garnish with the remaining fresh parsley and smoked paprika. Serve immediately while hot.
Notes
To prevent the top from burning, loosely tent the loaf with aluminum foil for the last 5-10 minutes of baking if needed. For best results, ensure the butter is soft before mixing the compound butter. The assembled loaf can be prepared ahead and refrigerated for up to 24 hours before baking; add 5-10 minutes to the baking time if starting cold.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 40 minutes
- Category: Side Dish
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: General
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 8 servings
- Calories: 355 kcal
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 350 mg
- Fat: 20 g
- Saturated Fat: 12 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 28 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 11 g
- Cholesterol: 40 mg