But one thing garlic bread isn't is healthy. Most recipes call for tons of melted butter. This one is made with heart-friendly olive oil, scads of Garlic, fresh herbs and large grained sea salt. If you are watching your sodium intake just omit the salt, its still delicious!
Healthy Garlic BreadServes 6 as a side dish. The choice of herbs is up to you, I list here the ones that I am partial to. This is a wonderful recipe to showcase fresh herbs from the garden.
1 (preferably whole wheat) baguette, split length-wise and then cross wise into 6 pieces total.
1/4 to 1/3 cup olive oil
1/2 to one large head garlic, minced or squashed
1 small handful basil leaves, minced
1 or 2 sprigs rosemary, minced
2-3 sprigs of oregano, minced
1 heaping teaspoon large grained sea salt (optional)
Optional: while not quite as healthy, the addition of 2 tablespoon of freshly grated parmesan or reggiano cheese contributes another layer of flavour to the garlic bread.
several grindings of fresh black pepper.
Procedure:
1. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit. Cut the bread and mince the garlic and herbs.
2. Mix the garlic and herbs with the salt, pepper and olive oil in a small bowl. Stir in cheese if using.
3. Place the bread face up in a bake pan and using a pastry brush or a spatula, spread the cut surfaces with the garlic-herb-oil mixture.
4. Place the garlic bread in the oven and bake for 10-15 minutes or until the edges get golden. A couple seconds under the broiler can toast the surface further if desired.
5. Serve immediately. Perfect with a fish or steak dinner along with a side salad or grilled vegetables.
