Cheesy Garlic Bread
This cheesy garlic bread recipe combines everything you love about garlic bread with a soft, fluffy base, crispy edges, and layers of melted cheese and garlic butter. Perfect as a side, appetizer, or snack, this garlic bread is easy to make, customizable, and guaranteed to impress!
Equipment
- Large mixing bowl
- Baking Tray
- parchment paper
- Small pot or saucepan
- Blender or fork (for garlic spread)
Ingredients
For the Dough:
- 4 cups all-purpose flour 500 g
- 1 packet instant yeast 7 g
- 1 tsp sugar
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 ¼ cups warm water 300 ml
- 2 tbsp olive oil
For the Garlic Spread:
- 3 heads of garlic cloves peeled
- ½ cup olive oil 125 ml
- 7 tbsp vegan or regular butter softened (100 g)
- 2 tbsp fresh parsley chopped
- 1 tsp paprika flakes
- 1 tsp paprika powder
- ½ tsp black pepper
- 1 tsp salt
For the Toppings:
- 1 ½ cups shredded vegan or regular cheese 200 g
Optional Toppings:
- Tomatoes sliced
- Sun-dried tomatoes
- Olives sliced
- Mushrooms sliced
- Bell peppers diced
- Red onion thinly sliced
Instructions
Prepare the Dough
- Mix Dry Ingredients: In a large mixing bowl, combine the flour, instant yeast, sugar, and salt.
- Add Wet Ingredients: Make a well in the center and pour in the warm water and olive oil.
- Form the Dough: Mix until a soft dough forms.
- Knead: Transfer the dough to a floured surface and knead for about 10 minutes until smooth and elastic.
- First Rise: Place the dough in a lightly oiled bowl, cover with a damp cloth, and let it rise in a warm place for about 1 hour or until doubled in size.
Prepare the Garlic Spread
- Fry Garlic: In a small pot, heat the olive oil over low heat. Add the peeled garlic cloves and fry gently for 10-15 minutes until soft and fragrant but not browned.
- Cool: Remove from heat and allow the garlic to cool slightly.
- Combine Ingredients: In a bowl, mix the fried garlic cloves (including the olive oil) with the softened butter, parsley, paprika flakes, paprika powder, black pepper, and salt.
- Blend Until Smooth: Use a blender or mash with a fork until the mixture is smooth and spreadable.
Assemble the Flatbreads
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C). Line baking trays with parchment paper.
- Divide Dough: Once the dough has risen, punch it down and divide it into 2-3 equal pieces, each about 9-14 oz (250-400 g).
- Shape Dough: Roll out each piece into an elongated or circular shape to fit your baking trays.
- Second Rise: Place the shaped dough on the prepared trays, cover lightly, and let it rise for an additional 15-20 minutes. This will help make the flatbread softer and fluffier.
Add Garlic Spread, Cheese, and Toppings
- Add Garlic Spread: Spread the garlic mixture evenly over each piece of dough.
- Add Cheese and Toppings: Sprinkle each flatbread with shredded cheese and add any optional toppings you prefer.
Bake
- Bake Flatbreads: Place in the preheated oven and bake for 15-20 minutes, or until the crust is golden and the cheese is melted and bubbly.
Serve
- Cool and Slice: Remove from the oven, let it cool slightly, then slice.
- Enjoy: Serve warm and enjoy your homemade garlic cheese flatbread!
Notes
- This recipe can be customized with additional toppings like sliced tomatoes, bell peppers, mushrooms, or olives.
- Gluten-free flour can be used to make this recipe gluten-free; adjust water as needed.
- For the best texture, allow the dough to rise twice, as instructed, to achieve a light, airy interior with crispy edges.
Nutrition
Calories: 220kcal