Name: Chipotle Garlic Bread
Total time: 45 min
Ingredients: 9 - 10 medium cloves garlic (about the size of a plump cashew nut), skins left on; 1 1/2 chipotle chiles en adobo (about 1 tablespoon); 1 teaspoon adobo sauce; 6 tablespoons unsalted butter , softened; 2 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese; 1/2 teaspoon table salt; 1 loaf Italian bread (high-quality; about 1 pound, football-shaped), halved lengthwise; Ground black pepper

Why This Recipe Works

For our best garlic bread recipe, we toasted a generous amount of whole garlic cloves to mellow the harshness and highlight the rich, sweet, nutty flavor. We used butter sparingly to give the bread ample richness without marring its texture with overwhelming greasiness. And we added a sparing amount of cheese for depth and complexity without interfering with the garlic flavor.

Before You Begin

Canned chipotle chiles packed in adobo sauce add a smoky, spicy flavor that was the hands down favorite of our garlic bread recipes of every tester. Garlic bread is best served piping hot, so time it to arrive at the table last, once all the other dishes are finished and ready to serve.

Instructions

Adjust oven rack to middle position and heat oven to 500 degrees. Meanwhile, toast garlic cloves in small skillet over medium heat, shaking pan occasionally, until fragrant and color of cloves deepens slightly, about 8 minutes. When cool enough to handle, skin and mince cloves (you should have about 3 tablespoons). Using dinner fork, mash garlic, chipotle chiles, adobo sauce, butter, cheese, and salt in small bowl until thoroughly combined.

Spread cut sides of loaf evenly with garlic butter mixture; season to taste with pepper. Transfer loaf halves, buttered side up, onto baking sheet; bake, reversing position of baking sheet in oven from front to back halfway through baking time, until surface of bread is golden brown and toasted, 10 to 12 minutes. Cut each half into 2-inch slices; serve immediately.