Description
Cheesy hasselback bread brings Mediterranean magic to your table, creating a mouthwatering appetizer that blends crispy edges with gooey cheese. Garlic-infused butter and fresh herbs elevate this simple yet irresistible dish, promising you’ll become an instant culinary hero at any gathering.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 1 large crusty loaf (like sourdough or Italian bread)
- 1 cup (100 g) shredded mozzarella cheese
- ½ cup (50 g) shredded cheddar cheese
Seasoning and Flavor Enhancers:
- 3 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon dried Italian seasoning
- 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley (optional)
- 1 pinch red pepper flakes (optional, for a spicy kick)
Instructions
- Warm the oven to 375F (190C) and cover a baking sheet with protective lining for effortless cleanup.
- Position the bread loaf on a sturdy cutting surface and carefully slice deep, uniform incisions approximately one inch apart, ensuring the base remains intact. Create an intricate crosshatch pattern by rotating the loaf and making perpendicular cuts.
- Craft a flavorful infusion by whisking together warm butter, aromatic olive oil, minced garlic, fragrant Italian seasoning, fresh parsley, and optional red pepper flakes in a compact mixing vessel.
- Gently separate bread sections and nestle generous portions of mozzarella and cheddar cheese into each crevice, distributing evenly. Delicately drizzle the herbed butter mixture throughout the slits, ensuring comprehensive coverage of cheese and bread interior.
- Encase the prepared loaf loosely in aluminum foil to preserve moisture during initial baking. Transfer to prepared sheet and roast for 15 minutes. Remove foil protection and continue baking until cheese transforms into molten pools and bread edges acquire a golden, crispy exterior.
- Allow bread to rest momentarily after removing from oven, permitting cheese to stabilize. Transfer to an elegant serving platter, inviting guests to indulge in this interactive, pull-apart delicacy bursting with garlicky, cheesy magnificence.
Notes
- Customize the bread by using different cheese varieties like Gruyère, provolone, or pepper jack for unique flavor profiles.
- Ensure clean, precise cuts by using a sharp serrated knife and placing wooden spoon handles on either side of the bread to prevent cutting through the bottom.
- Transform this recipe into a gluten-free option by selecting a gluten-free bread loaf and checking ingredient labels for potential gluten-containing seasonings.
- Elevate the dish’s nutritional value by incorporating chopped spinach, sundried tomatoes, or crispy bacon bits between cheese layers for added texture and taste.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Snacks, Appetizer
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Swedish
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 400
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 600 mg
- Fat: 24 g
- Saturated Fat: 12 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 36 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 15 g
- Cholesterol: 40 mg