Is there anything as delicious as a side of garlic bread? The hot garlic butter is soaked into the soft middle of the bread, and the crunch when you first bite into them. Use your garlic bread to scoop up the leftover food in the bowl. 

You can level up your garlic bread and make Texas toast garlic bread for even more flavor. But what main meals can you enjoy that complement the mighty side dish of garlic bread? We know that spaghetti bolognese is usually the first dish that springs to mind… but what else? 

 

 

Salads 

 A great salad is packed with many different textures, and those textures make for a great meal. Rather than three different types of lettuce leaves, fill your salad bowl with crunch raw vegetables like carrots, peppers, and cucumber. Add some sweetness with apples, pears, and figs. 

Create a bowl that looks like a rainbow. You can add cheeses, nuts, seeds, sauces, and fresh herbs for toppings. With a side of garlic bread, you’ve got a flavorful, delicious meal. Add protein to your salad to make it a bit more substantial for an evening meal. 

 

Soup and Stew

One of the joys of eating stews and soups is that you can dip your bread into the bowl and watch as the liquid gets soaked up into the bread. Delicious. Bread is a classic to be served with this type of meal, but garlic bread adds a new flavor profile to what you are eating. 

Some dishes already have garlic bread as part of the meal; for example, a Tuscan Pappa al Pomodoro will have a slice of garlic bread at the bottom of the bowl before adding the soup on top. 

Since garlic bread is often baked fresh ahead of the main meal, it makes it the perfect transportation for chunky stews. A few soups and stews go very well with garlic bread: chicken soup, tomato-based soups, beefy stews, seafood stews, and soups. 

 

Steak and Potatoes

 

Although sometimes steak is best served without much seasoning beyond salt and pepper, garlic bread on the side can complement the sweet and juicy meat well. 

Potatoes are a natural choice to put with butter and garlic, so this trio makes a hearty and delicious dish worth talking about. 

Part of what makes this super pairing is the texture of all of the individual pieces. The creaminess of the potatoes, the meaty chew, and the juiciness of the steak, followed by the crunch of the bread, mean that each bite is exciting and has a combination of flavors. 

One of the great things about garlic bread is that it goes with vegetables and meat substitutes just as quickly as it does with meat. 

Meaning that if you decide to change up your eating habits or take part in Veganuary, garlic bread can be your partner in crime. You’ll need to switch out the butter for a dairy-free alternative. 

 

Red Thai Chicken Curry 

It is traditional to have some type of bread with a curry-style dish. Most often, you’d have naan bread, roti, poppadoms, or another complementary bread, depending on the origins of the curry you are eating. 

But, garlic bread alongside many curry dishes works well. Most dishes that pack some heat will have some garlic in the sauce as the main flavor, so garlic bread works perfectly well with it. 

Chicken and shrimp curries work beautifully with a piece of buttery garlic bread. However, some curries with a sweeter coconut base might not work as well. While they do contain some garlic, it can be a difficult balance to get right. 

Although many people use a fork or a spoon to eat curry dishes, for many curries, it is more traditional to use your bread to scoop the rice and curry up. Garlic bread is usually sturdy enough to use as a scoop too! 

 

Meatballs

Meatballs are always great; we know they work well on sandwiches – the meatball sub is a classic. But they work just as well alone in a thick and sweet marinara sauce. After browning the meatballs, place them in a big dish, and pour in your marinara sauce. Top with mozzarella and enjoy with some crusty, fresh garlic bread. 

And of course, great garlic bread doesn’t need to be a side – it can be the star of any show, and is great for lunch or as a snack. 

Here is a great meatless recipe that is packed with flavor and texture: Black Bean and Sweet Potato Chili #Meatless