Savory homemade Five-Star Sesame Garlic Bread is a good companion for soups, salads, and entreés everywhere. The star and flower pattern connotes the heaven and the earth, with sesame seeds illustrating the wider galaxy beyond the bigger stars. There is also a sunflower appearance. This combination of two words, sun and flower, joins the sky to life on earth. Truly we have “the bread of life.”
This Garlic Bread has sensational flavors, a beautiful presentation, and a satisfying crunchiness overlaying the savory layered interior. Baked in a hot skillet, this beautiful bread has a nice crispy bottom. You might also like my Ciabatta Bread Temptation which is a totally different experience.
Historians suggest that Garlic Bread first appeared in Italy during the 15th Century. Perhaps it came from Rome and evolved from bruschetta. Or the powerful Lorenzo de’ Medici family in the Tuscan capital city of Florence may have encouraged new recipes for Machiavellian Princes?
The tastes of finely minced garlic, pure Virgin olive oil or softened butter provide an appetizing delight. I created a signature Savory Five-Star Sesame Garlic Bread to enhance the taste and appearance and to try to astonish my family and guests. It worked!
THE DOUGH
If it is possible for you, I highly recommend using a Stand Mixer to combine the dough thoroughly and to perfect the texture. I always prefer Bread Flour with Durum, but almost any Bread Flour or All-purpose Flour will work. Be sure to sift the flour before mixing for a more consistent and workable dough.
GARLIC BUTTER
I like to use fresh Garlic and Green Onions because they are always more pungent than powdered ones. I love a strong garlic taste and use up to 14-16 large cloves. If you are not so fond of garlic, reduce the cloves to a minimum of 4.
I also like to add a medium Spring Onion to add aroma and color and prefer Butter over Olive Oil to infuse a French-Danish-American taste to the Italian original. I suggest a room temperature soft unsalted butter. If you use salted butter, okay, but do not use extra salt in the dough. You can always adjust the taste by sprinkling a dash of salt on top just before baking.
INGREDEINTS:
This Savory Five-Star Sesame Garlic Bread is an absolute beauty! It has a strong and delicious garlic taste and a satisfying crunchiness. Every mouthful is seductive. Your family and friends will enjoy this magnificent dish inspired by Lorenzo de’ Medici and the city of Florence. Buon Apetito! Enjoy!
MORE BREAD RECIPES:
Gleaming No-Hassle Japanese Milk Bread Dinner Rolls
Bishop Absalon’s Deluxe Danish Nut Bread
Easy Flaky Chinese Scallion Pancakes
Savory Five-Star Sesame Garlic Bread
Ingredients
The Dough
- 1/2 tsp Dry Yeast
- 200 ml Water, room temperature
- 250 g / 9 oz Bread Flour (protein level 10)
- 100 g / 4 oz Durum Semolina Flour
- 1 tbsp Sugar
- 1/4 tsp Salt
- 2 tbsp Olive Oil
Garlic Butter
- 14-16 Garlic Cloves, large (or 1 nice head of Garlic), finely minced
- 80 g / 3 oz Softened Unsalted Butter, room temperature
- 1 Green Onion, minced
- 1/2 tsp Salt
Toppings
- 2 tbsp Sesame Seeds
- a few Parsley Leaves for garnish (optional)
Instructions
Prepare the Dough
- In a measuring cup, mix together the Water and Dry Yeast until the Yeast is fully dissolved. Set aside.
- In a Stand Mixer bowl, use a sifter to sift the Bread Flour and Durum Flour. Mix together. Add the Sugar, Salt and Olive Oil. Start the Mixer on a low speed and gradually add in the Yeast Water. Continue to mix until the dough is fully combined and stretchy.
- Place the mixture into a clean glass mixing bowl. Knead the dough for 1-2 minutes. Cover with a plastic wrap and set aside. After 30 minutes, knead again. Cover with plastic wrap and set aside for at least 2 hours.
Prepare the Garlic Butter
- Finely mince the Garlic with a garlic press. Mince the Spring Onion with a knife.
- Combine with the Softened Unsalted Butter and set aside.
Assemble the Dough into layers (You should absolutely watch the Video!)
- Dust your countertop with a good handful of flour.
- Roll out the dough onto the flour and knead it a few times to reduce the size. Cut into 4 equal pieces.
- Taking each piece of dough—one at a time!– use a roller to forma circle. Since you will need each circle to layer on top of the others, use a plate the size of the bottom of your frying pan to help form each circle. Cutaway any excess and save for later use. (Note: You should watch my video!)
- Put the first circle of dough on the center of a piece of parchment paper. Spread one-third of the Garlic Butter mixture evenly on top.
- Repeat the procedure, as follows: Roll out the second circle and place it exactly atop the first one. Add one-third of the Garlic Butter. Roll out the third circle and place exactly atop the second one. Add the last of the Garlic Butter. Finally, roll out the fourth circle and place it on top of the rest.
- Use a drinking glass to define a circle in the middle of the dough. Use a knife to cut the bread around the circle into four equal pieces. Then cut the pieces in half. You will have eight pieces at this point. Then cut the eight pieces in half. There are sixteen total cuts and an uncut circle in the middle.
- Twist the sixteen pieces into eight pieces. Grab two consecutive pieces with your hands and twist them outwardly away from each other. Do this twice and pinch the ends together to form a flower shape.
- Repeat the same procedure all the way around. You will have eight flower petals.
- Roll out the excess dough previously set aside. Use a Star Shape Cutter to form five small stars. Place them in the center circle.
- Let the Garlic Bread rest on the parchment paper inside the cold iron skillet. Cover with a plastic wrap and set aside for 45-60 minutes. Lift the whole from the frying pan and let it rest on the countertop.
- Place the iron skillet in the oven and preheat to 200 C (400 F).
- Meanwhile, wash the surface of the bread with the white part of an egg. Sprinkle Sesame Seeds on top of each flower shape, but not on the stars or the circle.
- Once the skillet is hot, use the parchment paper to place the whole into the skillet and bake for 25-27 minutes, or until the top is a nice deeply golden brown.
- Remove from oven and take the Garlic Bread out of the iron skillet to stop the cooking. Garnish with parsley if desired. Ready to serve!
Video
Notes
- Making this bread is much easier than any description can say, but it sounds complicated. Be sure to watch my video instruction where seeing is worth a thousand words of telling!
- It is very important to preheat the iron skillet before baking the bread. This not only evens out the baking process, but it provides a crispy bottom layer that is to die for!
- While baking, if the top gets too brown too fast, set a sheet of tin foil over the bread to maintain the color and prevent burning.
EN 
DK
This is the most beautiful Garlic Bread I’ve ever seen. What a great recipe! Your video instruction is very clear. Thanks so much for your recipe. I will try to make this at home! Hope I can succeed.
Hello Jane, I am so happy to hear that. Thanks for stopping by. I hope you enjoy making this Five-Star Sesame Garlic Bread.