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A simple recipe for Caprese Garlic Bread, the best garlic bread you will ever eat!
Garlic bread has always been a staple in our home. Growing up, my dad would make garlic bread to go with every Italian meal. My dad’s lasagna, spaghetti, and ravioli always had garlic bread on the side. Carb overload? Maybe, but I never complained.Now, every time I am make an Italian meal, I ask Josh if he wants garlic bread to go with. He says yes 100% of the time. I am glad he enjoys garlic bread as much as I do. And since we both eat it, it doesn’t matter if we have garlic breath:)
I love plain old garlic bread, but we recently gave the traditional garlic bread a makeover. We made Caprese Garlic Bread and let me tell you, this is the BEST garlic bread I have ever eaten. I am putting it in the top 10 recipes we have ever made…ok, maybe 20. I love a lot of our recipes:) This Caprese Garlic Bread is a winner. It deserves a gold medal for sure!
This garlic bread recipe has all of my favorite ingredients-bread, cheese, tomatoes, basil, and of course garlic and butter! We used Land O Lakes Butter in Half Sticks for this recipe. It is perfect because the recipe calls for four tablespoons, which is exactly one half stick! Perfect! No need to cut a stick of butter in half and have the other half get lost in the fridge.
We mixed together softened butter and minced garlic. Oh, what a glorious combination!
We spread the bread-hey, that rhymes, with the garlic butter.
We added slices of fresh mozzarella cheese and popped the bread into the oven. We baked the bread for about 15 minutes, until the cheese was melted and starting to brown on the edges.
We topped the bread with tomato slices, seasoned them with salt and pepper, and sprinkled fresh basil over the tomatoes.
Next, we added a drizzle of balsamic. We reduced the balsamic vinegar to give it a thicker texture and sweeter flavor.
And voila-Caprese Garlic Bread! The best garlic bread ever!!
We cut the bread into thick slices and devoured the loaf. It’s crusty, cheesy, garlicky, buttery, tomatoey, basily, and a tad bit vinegary. I think I just made up a bunch of words, but you’re with me, right? It’s super duper delicious!
If you are looking for an updated version of the classic garlic bread, make this Caprese Garlic Bread. It will change your life for the better. And it is perfect for summer! So fresh and tasty! We are going to be making this garlic bread all summer long. And don’t be worried about garlic breath, just make sure the person you are smoochin’ eats some too. I am sure you won’t have to twist their arm:)
Vegetarian
Garlic bread with fresh mozzarella cheese, tomatoes, basil, and a drizzle of balsamic! The best garlic bread you will ever eat!
Cook Time 15 minutes mins
Total Time 20 minutes mins
Ingredients
- 1 loaf ciabatta bread horizontally cut in half
- 4 tablespoons salted butter
- 3 cloves garlic minced
- 12 oz. fresh mozzarella cheese sliced
- 1/2 cup balsamic vinegar
- 2 medium tomatoes sliced
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
- 1/3 cup chopped fresh basil
Instructions
Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Place both sides of the baguette on a large baking sheet with the cut side up.
In a small bowl, combine butter and garlic and spread evenly on bread halves. Place the mozzarella cheese slices on top of the bread, making sure the cheese covers the bread completely. Bake the bread for 12-15 minutes or until the cheese is melted.
While the bread is in the oven, make the balsamic reduction. Place the balsamic vinegar in a small saucepan. Bring the vinegar to a boil, decrease the heat to low, and simmer, stirring occasionally, until the mixture is reduced by about half. This should only take about 5-7 minutes. Set aside.
Remove the bread from oven. Top the bread with tomato slices. Season with salt and pepper, to taste. Add the fresh basil and drizzle with balsamic reduction. Cut into slices and serve.
Have you tried this recipe?
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Disclosure: this post is in partnership with Land O’ Lakes.
FAQs
This garlic bread recipe has all of my favorite ingredients: bread, cheese, tomatoes, basil, and of course garlic and butter! We used Land O Lakes® Butter in Half Sticks for this recipe. It is perfect because the recipe calls for four tablespoons, which is exactly one half stick!
Why is my garlic bread not crispy? ›
You want to make sure the butter has melted and seeped into the bread a little bit. If you don't like your bread too crunchy, remove it from the oven a little but earlier. If you're a crunchy garlic bread fan like me, you want to leave it in the oven until the edges of the bread turn golden brown.
What is a Caprese in English? ›
Meaning of caprese in English
a salad made from slices of tomato and mozzarella (= a soft white Italian cheese), often with basil, and olive oil: The salads are pretty good — I normally get the Caprese.
How healthy is caprese? ›
Health Benefits of Caprese Salad:
Mozzarella cheese is a great source of protein, calcium, and vitamin D. Basil leaves contain essential oils that have anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties. And we all know that olive oil is one of the healthiest oils you can eat.
Why is it called caprese? ›
The salad is named after the island of Capri, where it is believed to have originated. Two common stories about its origin include it being an homage to the Italian flag or "in the 20th century to appease the palates of vacationing royalty and important politicos".
What is the secret to crispy crust bread? ›
The best way to brown and crisp your bread's bottom crust – as well as enhance its rise – is to bake it on a preheated pizza stone or baking steel. The stone or steel, super-hot from your oven's heat, delivers a jolt of that heat to the loaf, causing it to rise quickly.
Should you wrap garlic bread in foil? ›
By baking the bread in foil for the first 10 minutes, you allow the ciabatta to soften, which will give you a pillowy, chewy inside. Wrapping the bread also keeps the garlic from burning. Unwrapping the bread and baking it more adds color and will crisp up the crust for the perfect crunchy outside.
How do you make garlic bread soft again? ›
If you want to make stale bread soft again, wrap the bread in foil. If the crust of the bread is very hard, sprinkle a little water on the outside before you close the foil. Place the bread in a 300°F oven for 5-15 minutes or until the bread feels soft. If you added water, heat the bread until it no longer feels soggy.
Which tomatoes are good for caprese? ›
When selecting tomatoes, choose fragrant ones that smell earthy at the stem end and feel heavy for their size. Avoid any with wrinkled skins. You can also make a caprese with smaller tomato varieties, such as plum, roma, cherry, grape, or sungold.
What is a good substitute for mozzarella cheese in caprese? ›
For tasty option to use in place of fresh mozzarella, you could always use burrata. They have similar flavors but burrata has a deliciously creamy center. Which tomatoes are best for Caprese salad? As long as it's good and ripe, you can use just about any type of fresh tomato to make Caprese salad.
Garlic Bread
The Italians do eat garlic rubbed on toasted bread – with olive oil, not butter – and call it bruschetta. But they will toast an Italian bread such as ciabatta, not a French baguette, as has become popular in the UK and America.
What does garlic bread do to your body? ›
The antioxidants in garlic have been linked to the prevention of conditions such as Alzheimer's and dementia. Healthline explains how, saying, “Oxidative damage from free radicals contributes to the aging process. Garlic contains antioxidants that support the body's protective mechanisms against oxidative damage.”
Do the French eat garlic bread? ›
In France, it was common in Provence, where it was called chapon and served with salad. It was also prepared in other regions, such as Quercy, as a crust of bread rubbed with garlic, and spiced with a pinch of salt along with a drop of walnut oil. In England, butter is used instead of olive oil in garlic bread.
What is a caprese sandwich made of? ›
Caprese Sandwich- a classic Italian sandwich made with tomatoes, fresh mozzarella cheese, and basil. To make the sandwich extra special, add pesto, arugula, and a drizzle of balsamic vinegar.
What makes calabrese bread different? ›
It has a longer shelf life than classic baked bread, with a crunchy crust and a soft, fragrant crumb; its aroma is further enhanced by the aromatic notes of the chestnut wood used for baking.
Is caprese actually Italian? ›
The caprese salad is a classic Italian dish that has gained popularity all over the world.
Is caprese and mozzarella the same? ›
An Italian term, the word caprese refers to the combination of fresh Mozzarella, sliced tomatoes, sweet basil, salt, and olive oil. Most commonly it applies to the ever-popular caprese salad which originated in Capri, Italy.
