Fiery Garlic Bread

This spicy Calabrian garlic bread turns regular meals into special treats with its amazing mix of heat, garlic, and herbs. When roasted garlic meets fiery Calabrian chili, you get a taste that takes plain garlic bread to a whole new level.

I came up with this bread when I needed something impressive for a dinner with friends but didn't want to spend too much time cooking. My house smelled amazing from the garlic, and everyone was begging for my recipe after just one bite.

Ingredients

• 1 stick unsalted butter: let it soften at room temp first. Good butter really makes this dish stand out with its creamy base.
• 2 heads large garlic: Pick ones with snug, solid cloves for maximum flavor when they're roasted.
• 1 teaspoon extra virgin olive oil: This makes the garlic roast better and brings a light fruity background note.
• Kosher salt: to bring out all the tastes. Its thickness spreads nicely through the butter mix.
• Freshly ground black pepper: Brings a mild warmth that works well with the chili.
• 1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley and basil: You can't skip fresh herbs if you want that bright, lively flavor.
• 1/4 cup shredded parmesan cheese: add more if you want. Try real Parmigiano Reggiano for the best taste.
• 1/2 teaspoon Calabrian chili paste: This special Italian ingredient gives a fruity kind of heat.
• 1 french or sourdough baguette: Get a fresh one with a crunchy outside and soft inside.

Step-by-Step Instructions

Roast the Garlic:

Heat your oven to 400°F and let the butter warm up to room temp. Cut the tops off the garlic heads so you can see the cloves, add some olive oil, then sprinkle with salt and pepper. Wrap them fully in foil to make a closed pouch. Bake for 40 to 50 minutes until the garlic turns golden and gets super soft. This slow cooking changes the garlic from sharp to sweet and mellow.

Cool and Adjust Oven:

Take the garlic out and wait until it's cool enough to touch. Turn the oven down to 350°F to get ready for the bread. This new temperature will make the bread crispy without burning while the butter melts just right.

Prepare the Compound Butter:

Put your soft butter in a small bowl. Throw in the chopped herbs, parmesan, and Calabrian chili paste. Add salt and pepper how you like it. Squeeze the roasted garlic right out of their skins into the bowl. Stir everything together until it's all mixed up, making a pretty butter speckled with red and green.

Prepare the Bread:

Cut your baguette into even slices about half an inch thick. Put these pieces in one layer on a baking sheet with parchment paper so they won't stick and cleanup is easy.

Apply Butter Mixture:

Spread plenty of the herb butter on each slice of bread, going all the way to the edges. The butter should be thick enough to make a tasty topping but not so much that it drips off during baking. Sprinkle more parmesan on top if you want for extra flavor and a nice golden top.

Toast to Perfection:

Bake your bread at 350°F for 10 to 15 minutes. Keep an eye on it as it toasts until the edges get crisp and golden while the middles stay a bit soft. The butter should be totally melted and bubbling slightly, and the cheese turning light gold.

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When I first made this bread, my neighbor from Italy said it beat his grandmas version! The trick is taking your time to roast the garlic until its super caramelized, which brings out all its sweetness and gets rid of any sharp taste.

Make It Ahead

You can make the flavored butter up to three days before you need it and keep it in the fridge. Just let it warm up to room temp before you put it on the bread. You can even shape it into a log with plastic wrap and cut pieces as you need them. This makes hosting so much easier when you can get stuff done ahead of time.

Heat Level Customization

Calabrian chili paste has this unique fruity taste with medium heat, but you can change how spicy your bread is. For something milder, just use 1/4 teaspoon of paste. If you like things hot, go up to a full teaspoon. If you're using red pepper flakes instead, start with just 1/4 teaspoon since they can be much spicier without the same depth of flavor.

Perfect Pairings

This garlic bread goes great with Italian classics like lasagna, spaghetti, or minestrone soup. The spicy kick works really well with creamy dishes too, since the heat cuts through the richness. For a fancy starter, serve smaller pieces with a meat and cheese board with aged cheeses and olives. In summer, I love having this with grilled veggies for an easy but impressive side dish.

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A Word About Calabrian Chili

Calabrian chilis come from southern Italy's Calabria region, famous for its spicy food. These tiny, wrinkly peppers have medium heat with unique fruity and smoky flavors that regular chili flakes just don't have. In Italian cooking, they're loved for adding depth, not just spiciness. The paste version keeps all these qualities while being easy to use and store.

Recipe FAQs

→ Can I make the garlic herb butter ahead of time?

You bet! The butter mixture can be made up to 3 days early and kept in the fridge. Just let it soften before you put it on your bread. Want to save it longer? Roll it into a log with plastic wrap and freeze it for up to a month.

→ What can I substitute for Calabrian chili paste?

No Calabrian paste around? Plain red pepper flakes will work in a pinch, though they won't give you the same fruity richness. You can also try using half the amount of harissa, some sambal oelek, or mix regular chili flakes with a bit of sweet paprika to get closer to that special flavor.

→ What type of bread works best for this?

The recipe calls for French baguette or sourdough because they've got that perfect sturdy texture and nice crust. But don't worry if you can't find those. Ciabatta, regular Italian bread, or any hearty country loaf works great too. Just make sure your bread isn't too soft or it won't stand up to all that tasty topping.

→ How spicy is this garlic bread?

With just 1/2 teaspoon of chili paste for the whole loaf, it's got a medium kick. Calabrian chilies bring a fruity kind of heat that's got more going on than just spiciness. Don't like it too hot? Use less paste. Want more fire? Add a bit extra. It's totally up to you.

→ Can I add other ingredients to the garlic butter?

Sure thing! This recipe is super flexible. Try mixing in some chopped sun-dried tomatoes, tiny capers, fresh lemon zest, different herbs, or a bit of anchovy paste for extra flavor. You can also play with different cheeses like sharp pecorino, nutty asiago, or even some stretchy mozzarella on top if you want it extra indulgent.

→ What dishes pair well with this bread?

This spicy garlic bread goes great with tomato pasta dishes like spaghetti or lasagna. It's also really good with a warm bowl of soup or stew. Serving it as part of an appetizer spread works beautifully, and it can turn a simple green salad into a full meal. If you're having friends over, it's a crowd-pleaser alongside some nice cheeses and cured meats.