We were having an Italian style meal this evening. I wanted some garlic bread but we did not have any garlic. I therefore made it with wild garlic. I had been lucky in that we had got a free French stick (baguette) from our local waste food project. We also have an abundance of wild garlic growing at the bottom of the garden, and in nearby woods. I am rarely visiting the supermarket now a days and we are just eating what we already have, what we can forage, what we can grow, or what we can get from the waste food project a couple of times a month. So far, we are still eating well.
Baguettes are great for making pizza, or for making garlic or herb bread. We always try to get some if they are going at the waste food project. Most people leave them because they are hard and stale. However, even when stale, they are great for making other dishes like Mediterranean garlic crust pie or garlic bread. They can be revived by running under water and then baking, or putting in the microwave to eat as fresh.
To make the garlic butter
- Take about an ounce of butter out of the fridge and let it get to room temperature,
- Take about 6 washed, wild garlic leaves and chop fine. If you want to use ordinary garlic, crush or mince it.
- When the butter is soft enough, mash it and add the garlic evenly.
If I want to make garlic bread in a hurry, I melt butter in the microwave and add minced bulb garlic sometimes.
To make the garlic bread
- Make slices in the baguette and a cm intervals but don’t go all the way through the bread. I slice about 3/4 of the way through the bread,
- Taking some of the garlic butter on a knife and gently spread it in between the gaps on the top of the baguette. If I have made the garlic butter by melting it in the microwave I open the gaps and pour the liquid butter with a teaspoon into the slits in the bread.
- Place in a hot oven or air fry until hot and golden brown. Some times I will place it into foil first but this just helps it stay warm longer, and makes it a bit softer. It is not necessary.
When I do not have any kind of garlic at home, I use my herbs my herbs from the garden, mixed with the butter. This usually happens in summer. The thing that has really helped me on my frugal food journey, is learning that I do not have to stick to recipes. I can adapt them to use what I already have or can grow. The means less reliance and trips to the supermarkets, and so less money spent.
Reading your blog has inspired me to try wild garlic. There is plenty where I live. So I’ve tried it and I love it! It’s a wonder such a yummy thing that grows so easily can be disgarded by most, including me. There is none in my garden, so I uprooted a couple of plants from a place nearby where it grows galore and I have planted them in my garden. They seem to be OK, and soon, my garden should be covered with them. Free, organic, yummy veggies! Thank you so much for your posts. I am also going to try growing some lettuce in some tubs, I’ll see if I can manage because I’m not exactly a great gardener.