eat make read

Ok, so we had some veggies yesterday, but you were probably thinking you needed something to go with them. Well, have I got the most delicious and crispy garlic bread for you. It works perfectly with the tomato salad to make a delicious lunch or with just about any salad for that matter. Just think: crispy, olive oily toast with a hint of garlic, topped with warm ricotta cheese and bits of fresh basil. Come on, let’s go make some.

Sometimes ideas just pop in my head and I have to make them. This was one of them. I picked up a baguette at my favorite new shop, Bklyn Larder. When I got home I cut half of it into half inch slices. While I was doing that, I put about 1/4 cup olive oil along with a clove of garlic in the microwave to infuse the oil. Once the bread was cut and the oil infused, I placed both in a cast iron skillet and let the bread crisp up. After a few minutes I flipped it. Next I got my ricotta out of the fridge and put a teaspoon or so on top of each slice of bread. I put the whole pan in the broiler for a few minutes to get the cheese all warm and delicious. I topped the whole shebang with a few torn leaves of basil from my getting-sadder-by-the-minute fire escape garden.

Let me tell you, Aaron and I were mmmming and ahhhhing over this most delicious bread. It’s crispy on the outside, chewy on the inside and that cheese, you just can’t beat it. There are endless variations that you use with this too, basil is just the beginning. Just tonight I made it again and used goat cheese instead. Delicious. Try a little chopped tomato on top or perhaps a little honey. Oh man, the drool just won’t stop.

crispy garlic toast with ricotta + basil
makes 8 toasts

1/2 baguette, cut into 1/2 inch slices
1/4 cup olive oil
1 clove garlic
1/2 cup ricotta cheese
a few basil leaves, torn into small pieces

Preheat oven to 350°

1
Heat the olive oil and garlic together in the microwave for about a minute, or until fragrant.
2
Discard the garlic and pour the oil into a cast iron skillet. Place over medium heat.
3
Arrange bread slices in a single layer and heat for about 2-3 minutes or until golden. Flip the bread and heat for another 2-3 minutes.
4
Place a teaspoon of ricotta on each slice of bread and place in broiler for 2 minutes.
5
Remove from oven and sprinkle basil over top.
6
Eat up and enjoy!