Melty Cheese Bread
This bread is a perfect choice to serve alongside any Italian pasta dish. You can make it ahead of time, then bake it just before serving.
SERVES 12
INGREDIENTS
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- ½ cup butter, softened
- 2 cups shredded provolone cheese
- 1 teaspoon dried Italian seasoning
- 1 1-pound loaf unsliced Italian or French bread
Preheat oven to 350°F. In a small saucepan, heat olive oil over medium heat. Add garlic; cook and stir for 2 to 3 minutes, until garlic is fragrant. Remove from heat and pour into a heatproof bowl.
Meanwhile, in a medium bowl, combine butter, cheese, and Italian seasoning and mix well until blended. Stir in garlic mixture.
Slice bread into 1-inch slices. Spread cheese mixture onto one side of each bread slice. Reassemble loaf, placing coated sides against uncoated sides.
Wrap loaf in heavy-duty foil. Bake for 15–22 minutes or until bread is hot and cheese has melted.
Garlic Bread Options
To make crisp garlic bread, slice the bread thinly, spread sparingly with coating, and bake it uncovered on the oven rack or cookie sheets. For soft and chewy garlic bread, slice the bread 1-inch thick, use more cheese, and wrap the bread in foil, then bake it. You can unwrap the bread for the last 3 to 5 minutes to help crisp the crust if you'd like.
