One of the classic and delicious inventions of the Italians was the Pizza followed by the Garlic Bread. The soft spongy bread with the richness of butter and the abundant ting of the garlic makes it a great snack as well as a party starter. Of course, they can be bought off the pizza shops and relished but there is a completely different joy in eating them hot and soft taken out right from the home oven.
The ancient art of garlic bread that is still relished
Like most delicious Western dishes such as Pasta and Pizza, Garlic Bread too is a given for the Italians. It is the Bruschetta bread that is responsible for the invention of Garlic Bread. Bruschetta appeared in Italy around the 15th century, which can be traced back to Ancient Rome, from where more inventions into it took place giving the world Garlic Bread.
However, there are findings that suspect the garlic bread to have been an invention of the Italian-American. It is believed that garlic bread is an Italo-American creation, which is made with Italian ingredients but has firm roots in American soil.
Ingredients:
For the bread:
- 2 cup Maida
- 2 tbsp finely chopped Garlic
- 1 tbsp finely chopped Coriander
- ½ cup warm Milk
- 1 Egg, whisked
- 2 tbsp unsalted Butter
- ½ tsp Salt
- 2 tbsp Sugar
- ½ tsp Dry Yeast
For the seasoning:
- 2 tbsp Butter
- 1 tbsp Chillie Flakes
- 1 tbsp Oregano
- 1 cup grated Cheese
Method:
- In a bowl add the sugar and dry yeast. Add milk to it and mix well until the sugar dissolves completely. To this add the egg and mix again well. Now add the salt and mix until it dissolves.
- Now slowly add the all-purpose flour and mix with the wet ingredients. As the dough forms add the butter and keep mixing again.
- To this kneading dough add the garlic and coriander. Now knead well to form a sticky dough. Once the dough is formed cover it and keep it aside for about two hours.
- Now transfer the dough to the kitchen counter and knead more forming a ball. Then roll it out into a flatbread not making it too thin. Then fold it end to end and spread out once again using a rolling pin. Once again roll it and fold it from the ends as well.
- Grease a baking tray and place the rolled dough in it. Cover the tray and keep it for another half an hour.
- Now, apply egg wash on the top of the dough. Place it in the pre-heat oven at 180 degrees and bake for 20-25 minutes. Once baked, cut the bread into desired slices.
- Apply butter to each cut slice. Then add cheese on the top and garnish with the dry herbs. Bake in the oven until the cheese melts. Serve!
Gone are the days now when mothers will let their children dig into the market garlic bread, as this recipe will make mothers a master chef at home. Not only is this homemade garlic bread hygienic but also keeps the portal open for more to come. With this one can add a generous amount of cheese and eat as many as they want.