Mere moments stand between you and perhaps the most delicious, and the easiest, slice of garlic toast that can be had. If you love garlic bread for its rich, garlicky flavour, this less than 5 ingredient recipe has your name (and my name) all over it.
Living in Spain as a young teen, I developed an abiding passion for the legendary Pan con Tomate (Spanish tomato bread), an intoxicating and utterly simple homage to the essence of in-season tomato flavour. And yes, while tomatoes are the star of pan con tomate, there is another critical element that makes pan con tomate, and this garlic toast, something I could eat for forever and a day.
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What makes this garlic bread so different, and so easy ?
Part of what makes garlic bread so alluring is its rich aroma, which announces delicious eating to come well before arriving at the table. Here, a few simple ingredients create this same savoury perfume with an incredibly simple method.
Instead of creating a garlic and butter mixture that is combined with bread and then heated, this method starts with large slices of hot, crisp toast. Next, a raw garlic clove is rubbed against the top surface, the warmth and texture of the toasted bread releasing the pungent, sweet and spicy aroma of fresh garlic, which wafts up and perfumes your visage. Finishing lashes of aromatic extra virgin olive oil, and a sprinkle of flaky sea salt, and some of the best garlic bread you can eat is ready to enjoy, entirely plant-based to boot!
How to make “The” Garlic Toast
The magic of “The” Garlic Toast begins with a thick piece of sturdy bread, such as from a French or Italian loaf, a baguette perhaps, or preferably in my opinion, from a sourdough loaf; something leaning towards the rustic, with a sturdy crumb and a nice crust, is what I think works best here. I’m lucky enough to live near a restaurant/bakery that makes a superlative sourdough boule, so that’s what I use when I can. As bread is one of the few ingredients here, use a favourite bread you like to eat.
The thickness of your bread slice will allow the exterior surfaces of the toast to be toasted, which occurs in the next step, while still keeping some softer interior, an utterly pleasing textural combination that I happen to prefer. You can, of course, make your slices thin, so that they are entirely crisped up once toasted if that is your preference.
Once you have your bread sliced, you can use the toaster, or if making multiple slices at once, put the bread under your broiler or on top of a grill (such as on a bbq or campfire), turning the slices over when needed so that each side is nicely browned; this toasting of the bread is essential to the next part of the process.
Once your hot, toasted bread is ready, proceed immediately to the next step. Taking a raw clove of garlic, rub the clove directly onto the top surface of your toasted bread. The earthy texture acts as a kind of grater that releases the sharp volatile fragrance of the fresh garlic. Make sure you cover the entire surface of the toasted bread with this garlic rubbing motion, keeping in mind that the harder you rub, the more garlic essence is released. It doesn’t take much to impart an intense garlic flavour, so make your first slice with a light and even swiping motion, finish it as below, and then adjust your garlic rubbing intensity as desired.
To complete the dish, a generous drizzle of extra virgin olive oil is applied to the now garlic laden toast, adjusting the amount to suit your preference. A final and necessary touch is a sprinkle of sea salt, and your garlic toast is ready to eat while still hot and crisp. And there you have it, in my opinion, “the” best garlic bread around.
How to eat “The” Garlic Toast
Because this garlic toast is so quick and easy to make, you don’t need a special occasion to make it! Anytime I need something to add alongside a lentil soup, a stew, or a hearty plate of beans, I make up slices of this garlic toast. You can also cut prepared slices of this garlic toast into impromptu croutons and mound them into a delicious soup, such as this roasted tomato soup, and you could certainly create a sandwich, tartine, or bruschetta using this garlic toast as your base.
Making "The" Garlic Toast For a Crowd
If making “The” Garlic Toast for a crowd, you can also cut an entire loaf into impressive, super long or wide slices, and grill or broil to toast, which can then be chopped up into smaller servings in the kitchen or at the table for a dramatic flourish. Once you try the basic technique and discover how delicious “The” Garlic Toast is, you can adapt it in whatever way suits you.
Flavourful pairings for "The" Garlic Toast
These are some of my favorite dishes to serve with "The" Garlic Toast:
"The" Garlic Toast
Ingredients
- 1 thick slice hearty bread such as sourdough
- 1 clove garlic peeled
- extra virgin olive oil to taste
- flaky sea salt to taste
Instructions
- Toast or grill your bread until golden and crunchy. Once toasted, take your clove of garlic and rub it over the surface of the bread - the more you rub, the more garlic flavour is released. Drizzle a generous amount of olive oil on top of the bread, then sprinkle with salt. Eat immediately, enjoy, and repeat as desired!
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