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Garlic and Herb Ciabatta

Source of Recipe

From "Once Upon A Chef" by Jennifer Segal


Recipe Introduction

"There is always happiness chez moi when garlic bread is on the menu, so this easy recipe is in the regular rotation. I use a store-bought Italian ciabatta (pronounced cha-bah-tah) because it has a crisp crust and soft, porous texture ideal for soaking up indecent amounts of garlic butter. To mellow the raw garlic flavor, I cook the garlic butter on the stovetop before spooning it onto the bread. Garlic bread should pack a punch, but it shouldn't knock you out!"

List of Ingredients

2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
6 tablespoons unsalted butter
3 cloves garlic, minced
½ teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
One 1-pound loaf ciabatta bread


Recipe

Preheat the oven to 400° F and set an oven rack in the middle position.

In a small skillet, heat the oil and butter over low heat. When the butter is melted, add the garlic and cook, stirring occasionally, until softened and fragrant but not browned, 1 to 2 minutes. Off the heat, stir in the salt, pepper, and parsley.

Slice the ciabatta in half horizontally. Brush or spoon the garlic butter mixture over the cut sides of the bread, covering completely. Place the halves back together again and wrap in aluminum foil. Place directly on the oven rack and bake until warm, about 10 minutes. Unwrap the bread and place it back in the oven for about 5 minutes, or until toasted and crisp. Cut into slices and serve.

Serves 4 to 6