Description
Roasted garlic bread delivers rustic comfort with minimal effort, combining simple ingredients into a sensational homemade loaf. Crusty exterior and pillowy interior promise delightful moments of pure culinary pleasure you’ll savor slice after slice.
Ingredients
Scale
Bread Ingredients:
- 3 cups all-purpose flour
- 1.5 tsp salt
- 0.25 tsp active dry yeast
- 1.5 cups water
Roasted Garlic and Flavor Enhancers:
- 1 whole head of garlic
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tsp dried rosemary
- 0.5 tsp black pepper
Optional Toppings:
- 2 tbsp cornmeal (for dusting)
- 1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil (for brushing)
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400°F. Slice the top off the whole garlic head, drizzle with olive oil, and wrap in aluminum foil for roasting.
- Roast the garlic for 35-40 minutes until golden and tender. Once cooled, squeeze the soft cloves from their skins and mash into a smooth paste.
- In a large mixing bowl, combine flour, salt, and yeast. Whisk together to distribute ingredients evenly.
- Pour water into the dry ingredients, adding the roasted garlic paste, dried rosemary, and black pepper. Mix with a wooden spoon until a shaggy, sticky dough forms.
- Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and let the dough rest at room temperature for 12-14 hours, allowing slow fermentation and flavor development.
- After resting, generously dust a clean surface with flour. Gently transfer the sticky dough and fold it a few times to create surface tension.
- Shape the dough into a round loaf, and sprinkle cornmeal on a piece of parchment paper. Place the dough on the cornmeal-dusted surface.
- Cover the dough with a clean kitchen towel and let it rise for an additional 1-2 hours until puffy and slightly increased in size.
- Preheat a Dutch oven with its lid in the oven at 450°F for 30 minutes before baking.
- Carefully transfer the dough with the parchment paper into the hot Dutch oven. Score the top with a sharp knife to allow steam escape.
- Bake covered for 30 minutes, then remove the lid and bake for an additional 15-20 minutes until the crust is deep golden brown.
- Remove from oven, brush with extra virgin olive oil, and let cool on a wire rack for at least 1 hour before slicing.
Notes
- Roast garlic slowly and patiently to develop deep, mellow flavors without burning, ensuring a smooth, caramelized paste.
- Allow extended fermentation time to enhance bread’s complexity, developing rich tangy notes and improving digestibility.
- Use high-quality extra virgin olive oil for brushing to add subtle fruity undertones and create a glossy, appetizing crust.
- Consider gluten-free alternatives by substituting all-purpose flour with a blend of gluten-free flours like almond, rice, and tapioca for dietary restrictions.
- Prep Time: 12-14 hours
- Cook Time: 1 hour
- Category: Appetizer, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 250
- Sugar: 0.5 g
- Sodium: 370 mg
- Fat: 7 g
- Saturated Fat: 1 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 47 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 8 g
- Cholesterol: 0 mg