Garlic Confit and Herb Cheese Stuffed Ciabatta with Honey and Chili Flakes Recipe
This Garlic Bread recipe features a rich and flavorful garlic butter made from garlic confit cloves, salted butter, parsley, and pecorino romano cheese, spread generously on ciabatta bread and topped with mozzarella. Grilled to golden perfection, it is finished with a drizzle of honey, chili flakes, and fresh parsley for a deliciously savory and slightly sweet appetizer or side dish.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Total Time: 20 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Appetizer
- Method: Grilling
- Cuisine: Italian
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
Scale
Garlic Butter
- 250 g salted butter
- 24–30 garlic confit cloves
- 1 tbsp garlic confit olive oil
- 1 large handful parsley (plus extra to serve)
- 1 cup pecorino romano (plus extra to serve)
Toppings and Bread
- 50 g mozzarella
- 1 ciabatta loaf (cut in half lengthways)
- 1 tbsp honey
- 1 tsp chilli flakes
Instructions
- Prepare Garlic Butter: Place the garlic confit cloves, salted butter, parsley, and pecorino romano into a food processor and blend until well combined. Chill the butter in the fridge for 20 minutes to allow it to slightly harden and make spreading easier.
- Butter the Bread: Spread roughly 4 tablespoons of the garlic butter onto each slice of ciabatta bread. Evenly sprinkle extra pecorino romano and the mozzarella over the buttered slices for added richness and flavor.
- Grill the Bread: Place the prepared ciabatta slices under a grill for 5 to 10 minutes or until the cheese melts, turns golden, and starts bubbling. Keep an eye to prevent burning.
- Garnish and Serve: Remove the garlic bread from the grill and immediately sprinkle with finely chopped fresh parsley, chili flakes, and drizzle with honey to add a balance of fresh, spicy, and sweet notes. Slice and serve right away for the best taste and texture.
- Store Leftover Butter: Roll any leftover garlic butter into a log using parchment paper and store it in the refrigerator. This versatile butter can be used over toast, roasted chicken, vegetables, or to make more garlic bread. It will keep fresh for up to 3 weeks.
Notes
- Use garlic confit for a mellow, sweet garlic flavor and soft texture that blends easily into the butter.
- Adjust the amount of chili flakes to suit your spice preference or omit for a milder flavor.
- The honey drizzle adds a subtle sweetness that complements the savory flavors but can be skipped if you prefer.
- Grilling time may vary depending on your grill’s heat; monitor closely to avoid burning.
- Leftover garlic butter freezes well if you want to extend its shelf life beyond 3 weeks.
Keywords: garlic bread, garlic butter, grilled bread, Italian appetizer, pecorino romano, mozzarella, garlic confit, ciabatta
