Cheesy garlic bread has to be one of life's ultimate guilty pleasures.
The Double Cheese Garlic Bread Toastie
Garlic bread, whether in the form of a flatbread, pizza or baguette has to be one of the most popular starter or side dishes to any snack or takeaway meal.
Cheesy garlic bread is just adding two of my favourite things into one pocket-sized flavour filled sensation.
This delicious toastie has a mix of two of my favourite cheeses, but you can always opt for your own particular favourites, and once you have the basics covered you can substitute ingredients or add a few of your own to your personal preference.
What you will need for the perfect Double Cheese Garlic Bread Toastie
I recommend either medium or thick sliced bread, either white or 50/50 white/wholemeal.
For this recipe I have used medium white.
The double cheeses I have chosen are a mature cheddar and mozzarella. Being permanently "unready" I never have a cheeseboard of varieties ready to slice or grate (also, I hate grating) so I find it much simpler to buy the cheese ready grated from my local supermarket. I always have at least 2 or 3 bags of different kinds of cheeses in my fridge so I'm ready for that midday sandwich or late night snack or whatever takes my fancy. These are usually supplied in 200g bags and often are resealable so you can just use the amount you want and keep the rest in the fridge for later (up to 5 days, so no need for waste).
You will also need some garlic paste of which I prefer a small tube as it lasts ages in the fridge, plus a sprinkling of dried mixed herbs and a pinch of ground black pepper.
The Recipe
Double Cheese Garlic Bread Toastie
EQUIPMENT
- 3-in-1 snack maker with sealed toastie plates
PREPARATION TIME : 5 minutes
COOKING TIME : 6 minutes (approx.)
SERVINGS : 2
INGREDIENTS
- 4 slices medium white bread
- 15g butter or similar
- 40g grated mature cheddar cheese
- 30g mozzarella cheese
- tsp garlic paste
- pinch dried mixed herbs
- pinch of ground black pepper
STEP BY STEP INSTRUCTIONS
- Turn on the snack maker
- While the appliance is heating up gather all the ingredients to hand.
- Butter one side of each of the 4 slices of bread
- Turn over 2 of the slices and spread the garlic paste over each
- When ready, place 2 slices butter side down on bottom plate
- Form a recess with the back of a spoon in the shape of the plate (be careful as the plate is hot)
- Place equal amounts of each grated cheese into the recesses formed.
- Sprinkle some dried mixed herbs and a pinch of ground black pepper over the cheese
- Place the remaing 2 slices of bread on top with the paste inside onto the cheese and the buttered side uppermost
- Close the top plate and click the handles to lock in place
- Cook for approximately 6 minutes or until golden
How to make the perfect toastie
I prefer to place the bottom slices of bread onto the bottom plate when ready to create a recess with the back of a spoon for the fillings. However, you will need to work quickly while building the rest of your toastie as the buttered bottom slice will start cooking immediately and the top slice will only start to cook when the lid is closed.
You can of course assemble the whole thing first and then lift into place. Either way, be aware that the plates are very hot.
Once your toastie is cooked switch off the appliance at the socket. NEVER lift your finished toastie out with your fingers. The plates will still be extremely hot! Always use wood or plastic tools. I use a plastic fish slice and the toastie comes away from the non-stick surface easily.
Or you could try...
If you wanted to spice things up a bit, you could try substituting the mixed herbs for some dried chilli flakes to give the whole thing a kick!
For a more subtle variation try a teaspoon of tomato puree mixed with the garlic paste to add another layer of flavour to this delicious combination. (Again I prefer the puree in a tube. In fact I always have a tube each of tomato and garlic in my fridge as they are a great addition to many a delicious snack and you can use a small amount and reseal the tubes and they keep for ages in the fridge}.
Perfect with...
The Double Cheese Garlic Bread Toastie is perfect on it's own as a snack or as a starter before any pizza or pasta meal.
On it's own, I find it best served with some fresh cherry tomatoes, just to add a bit of acidity to cut through those rich garlic and cheese flavours.
How does your sandwich maker compare?
For most of the recipes shared here I use my trusty Tower Deep Fill 3-in-1 Sandwich Maker, so obviously you may need to adjust your ingredients slightly if you are using a different appliance. Having said that, most sandwich makers are very similar in design and size, and the amount of each filling is a guide only and you can increase or decrease, add or subtract, according to your personal taste.
Never be afraid to experiment, and remember you won't always get the perfect result first time, so if at first you don't succeed try, try and try again. It's great fun!
If you want to check out some of the alternative 3-in-1 machines available check out our guide...
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