Wholegrain Garlic Bread (A Cleaned Up Classic Recipe)

We have had a little cold spell at the moment, so bring on the carbs. No salads welcome here. It's all soups, casseroles and hot stuff in our home. I don't mind because I can make big batches of crockpot cooking and everyone fights over leftovers and eating them with a slice (or two!) of Wholemeal garlic bread is one of the best ways to past those chilly nights!

Wholemeal Garlic Bread

Who doesn't love a little garlic bread?

Dipped in your favourite hummus recipe or smothered with mashed avocado (always a hit in our home). Or just on its deliciously crunchy, garlic own-some. This is one to add to your favourites list.

Yesterday afternoon kids came home from school grumpy and hungry (no surprise there). No matter how much I pack in their lunch, it's always the same. 4pm grumbles hit like clockwork. It's a bit too early to eat dinner, so I normally let them tuck in to a late afternoon snack. It's my 'feeling peckish' time too - so our little kitchen gets a lot of foot traffic.

We have a LOT of garlic at the moment. It was on special and I got a whole bag for the price of one. I know, of course I got it. It also means we are eating garlic in everything. Not that I'm complaining, and it's also on my list of immunity boosting foods for kids so it's all good. Even the kids who aren't the biggest garlic fans love this.

I don't normally make my own bread. We have a lovey little bakery up the road that does a great job at this, so it's a lot easier to buy it from them. And despite what everyone tells you, normal bread is a bit of a pain to make if you don't have a bread maker There's all that kneading and waiting and kneading and waiting. And it still doesn't turn out as well as the baker up the road does it!

Ingredients

This is so simple to make, really, anyone can make this.

Flour

I use Wholewheat flour although you could also make this with my other favorites: Buckwheat or Einkorn. Wholewheat works well in this because it's, well, Wholewheat but also because it gives the garlic bread a golden color that looks like it belongs. It's all golden and well cooked and crispy. Yum!

Yeast

I buy these little packets of instant yeast. I'm sure it's better value to buy a bigger pack but I don't use yeast all that much and so in these cute little packets I don't have to think about using an opened packet. You can get these easily where I live, but the ones in the link above are available from Amazon if you're not able to get them easily.

Garlic

Fresh garlic, garlic from a jar in the fridge, it doesn't matter. Garlic has such a host of health benefits, just eating it is good. End of story!

Butter

Real butter smothered on hot garlic bread can't be beaten. You can also use olive oil, so whichever you prefer to use is fine.

Additions

This garlic bread, as well as being a great garlic bread in its own right makes a good base for some additions :)

• Parmesan cheese
• Caramelised onions
• Mozzarella cheese
• Chilli flakes
• Oregano Herbs

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Leftovers

This recipe is a little lot easier than bread making and I think looks like you tried a little harder. Put this on the dinner table and compliments will keep on coming.

When I was growing up, my parents took me to this Italian Restaurant. My favourite food - by far - was the garlic pita bread they served as an appetizer. We are talkin' a LONG time ago, so I can't remember what it tasted like, but I do remember what it looked like and how much I loved it. This is my attempt to recreate that recipe - and I think I did a really good  job (Not sure if the little Italian chef would agree, but my family don't know any different).

What To Serve Garlic Bread With

The real question is what not to serve with garlic bread! These are the usual supects for us:

• One pan Spaghetti Bolognese
• Lemon spaghetti with chicken
• Chicken and mushroom curry
• Classic Margherita pizza
• Clean eating mushroom pizzas
• Ham and mushroom pasta

How To Make Wholemeal Garlic Bread

Ingredients

• 1 cup Wholewheat flour
• ½ cup Warm water
• ½ teaspoon Dry yeast
• 2 Large cloves garlic finely chopped
• 1 tbsp Softened Butter (or Olive oil)

Instructions

• Preheat oven to 400'F / 185'C
• Mix yeast and water and stir until dissolved.
• In a large mixing bowl, mix flour, water and yeast until a ball of dough forms.
• Leave in a warm, dark spot for 15 min (I cover my bow with a dishcloth)
• Turn the dough onto a floured tray / or non stick paper and roll out. Try get it as thin as possible.
• Mix garlic and oil together and rub all over top of rolled out dough.
• Bake for 15 - 20 min until golden.

Wholemeal Garlic Bread Recipe