PARMESAN AND BASIL BLOSSOM LOAF

Make deep cuts in a sourdough loaf so that the garlic basil butter and Parmesan covers more ground. This pull-apart loaf is great as part of a barbecued dinner.

Yield: Serves 8.

PARMESAN AND BASIL BLOSSOM LOAF

Ingredients

  • 1 round sourdough bread
  • 1/2 cup salted butter
  • 2 cloves garlic, crushed
  • 1/2 tsp basil, crumbled
  • 1/8 tsp freshly ground pepper
  • 1/4 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese

Directions

  1. Preheat natural gas barbecue on low heat.
  2. Cut bread into 1 1/2 inch thick slices, being careful not to cut all the way through bread. Turn bread a quarter turn and repeat procedure, forming bread stick-like “petals”.
  3. Place loaf on a large piece of heavy-duty foil; set aside.
  4. Melt butter in a small frypan over medium heat. Add garlic and saute for 1 minute. Remove from heat; stir in basil and pepper.
  5. Gently pull “petals” apart and drizzle with melted butter mixture. Sprinkle Parmesan cheese in between “petals”.
  6. Bring edges of foil together to form a package; close all edges with tight double folds.
  7. Heat loaf over low heat directly on grid or on warming rack on natural gas barbecue, turning over frequently, until bread is heated through, about 20 - 25 minutes.
Nutritional analysis per serving:

282 calories, 13.2 g fat, 7.9 g protein, 33.5 g carbohydrate, 1.5 g fibre, 429 mg sodium