This post may contain affiliate links. Read mydisclosure policy.
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?
Leave a comment below and share a photo on Instagram. Tag @twopeasandpod and hashtag it with #twopeasandtheirpod
Disclosure: this post is in partnership with Land O’ Lakes.
FAQs
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.
Why is my garlic bread not crispy? ›
Ditch the butter and use extra virgin olive oil instead to brush your bread. Olive oil will give you a lighter garlic bread that is perfectly crunchy and not greasy or limp. Use the right amount of garlic.
Why is Caprese so good? ›
Caprese is truly a magical and perfect combination of flavors, textures, and freshness: ripe tomatoes, fresh mozzarella cheese, basil, and some kind of drizzle of either olive oil or balsamic… or both. For this Caprese, I used a simple balsamic reduction, which results in a pretty presentation and gorgeous flavor.
What is the difference between garlic bread and garlic toast? ›
Garlic bread (also called garlic toast) consists of bread (usually a baguette, sour dough, or bread such as ciabatta), topped with garlic and occasionally olive oil or butter and may include additional herbs, such as oregano or chives. It is then either grilled until toasted or baked in a conventional or bread oven.
Is caprese good for you? ›
All things considered, YES a Caprese salad is a healthy option! Low in calories with a bunch of important nutrients coming from the vegetables and healthy fats from the cheese and olive oil. Basil also is a strong anti-inflammatory with enzyme-inhibiting oils.
Is caprese actually Italian? ›
The first origin story for Caprese salad dates back to post-World War I Italy. A patriotic mason wanted to make a dish that was a true tribute to Italy and that visually incorporated the tricolor into the presentation. The first printed mention of the Caprese salad was on a menu at the Hotel Quisisana.
How to get garlic bread to crisp? ›
If you like crispier garlic bread, bake it for 3-5 minutes more (but watch it carefully so that it doesn't get too toasted). If you like it softer, take it out closer to 10 minutes. You can also wrap the bread in aluminum foil before baking it if you like softer garlic bread.
What is the secret to crispy bread? ›
Bake on a pizza stone or steel.
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.
Why does my garlic bread taste like vinegar? ›
The bread was fermented by yeast and did contain alcohol before it was baked. If the bread was a little underbaked and picked up the right bacteria it could be trace amounts of vinegar. Other options are that the bread picked up a normal sourdough-esque bacteria and just smells sour without having actual acetic acid.
What tomato is best 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.
CILIEGINE. These mozzarella balls are about the size of a cherry. Bocconcini and ciliegine can be used interchangeably — try either thread on skewers with cherry tomatoes for a twist on Caprese.
What does caprese mean in Italian? ›
As it's called in Italian, Insalata caprese, Caprese salad literally means “Salad of Capri.” Although nobody knows whether or not the salad was actually first made on the Italian island, it likely originated from a dish made in Capri from a different type of cheese, cacio, served with tomatoes.
Is it better to use garlic salt or garlic powder for garlic bread? ›
Buttering each slice of the bread and then wrapping it in foil ensures the bread is buttery, gooey goodness. This bread doesn't work with garlic powder and it's not as good if you use garlic powder and salt. The best result comes from using garlic salt.
What is the best combination for garlic bread? ›
Garlic bread is a classic partner to a dish like a seafood stew. You can whip up a warm bowl in minutes using any mix of seafood—such as mussels, fish fillet slices, prawns—and a broth seasoned with spices, vegetables, and sour cream.
What's the green stuff in garlic bread? ›
It's parsley
Yep, the green flecks are finely-chopped parsley. Recipe after recipe calls for the addition of the herb to the top of the bread ―- and if Mary Berry says it's parsley, then parsley it surely is.
What bread is garlic bread made of? ›
This is a versatile recipe, as readily made with thin baguettes, as it is with rustic sourdoughs and airy Italian loaves. Cutting the bread like a Hasselback potato keeps the butter from seeping out and allows the garlic to infuse the bread with its flavor without scorching.
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 is Italian garlic bread made of? ›
Garlic bread is a tasty side made with Italian bread, garlic, butter, olive oil, cheese, and parsley, baked in the oven, and broiled for the last minute to ensure an ultra crispy golden top.
What are caprese bags made of? ›
The material of these bags is of the highest quality and are made with long-lasting materials like faux leather.
