Garlic Bread and Tomato Bake

Garlic Bread and Tomato Bake is a quick and easy recipe that’s filling and tasty. Make leftover garlic bread into a whole new meal with a few other ingredients that you probably already have in your larder and fridge.

Why make Garlic Bread and Tomato Bake?

I originally created this recipe because I had a single garlic bread French stick left over from another meal. I decided to use it to make a hearty family lunch dish with some other bits and pieces I had in my fridge.

It’s a sort of savoury bread and butter pudding and it is so good that I now regularly buy extra garlic bread just so I can make it. It’s a really easy recipe to make and is packed full of flavour.

What ingredients do I need to make Garlic Bread and Tomato Bake?

•  garlic bread baguette (French Stick)
• tomatoes
• eggs
•  milk
• red pesto
• grated cheese
• freshly ground pepper
• basil leaves (optional)

What is garlic bread?

There are many different kinds of garlic bread. I use a garlic baguette or French stick that has been partly sliced and then spread with butter which has been mixed with crushed garlic. You can also use the type of garlic bread that is a flatbread spread with garlic butter, simply cut it up and continue with the recipe.

What is red pesto?

Red Pesto has a base of sundried tomatoes combined with fresh basil, garlic, nuts, and parmesan cheese. Sometimes roasted red peppers are also included in the mix. I like to have a jar of red pesto in the fridge as it’s a great addition to tomato sauces or spread on top of salmon fillets.

Can I make my own red pesto?

Yes, you can make your own red pesto. Making your own pesto gives you more control over the flavour and you can experiment with adding your own favourite ingredients to this sauce.

I don’t have red pesto, can I use green pesto?

Green or Basil pesto has a different taste to red pesto but it is also very delicious. I suggest you use a little less of the green pesto than the red so the flavour doesn’t overpower the other ingredients. You can also use my Wild Garlic Pesto, again be sparing as it also has a strong flavour.

What kind of tomatoes should I use?

Use ripe tomatoes if you can because they have much more flavour than tomatoes that are hard and unripe. I’ve made this recipe with cherry tomatoes, but small vine tomatoes and also with larger tomatoes can also be used. Leave cherry tomatoes whole, smaller tomatoes can be cut in half and large tomatoes should be sliced.

Can I use canned tomatoes?

I don’t recommend that you make the recipe with standard canned tomatoes. However, canned cherry tomatoes have a sweet taste and would work well in this bake.

What kind of cheese should I use for this bake?

Use a cheese that melts well. I use grated Cheddar cheese because we always have it in our fridge. You can make this recipe with grated Mozzarella or Gruyere or Emmental would also work really well.

I don’t have any fresh basil, what else can I use?

When I made the Garlic Bread and Tomato Bake I forgot to add the fresh basil leaves for the photographs! It really is fine to serve it without the basil leaves. They go onto the dish just before serving and as there is already basil in the pesto, they are not essential. You can scatter over some finely chopped fresh parsley if you have any, it adds a welcome freshness and colour to the top of the dish.

Can I make Garlic Bread and Tomato Bake ahead of time?

Start the recipe up to 8 hours before you plan to bake it. Make up the bake and leave the bread to soak in the egg and milk mixture until you are ready to bake it.

Can I freeze this recipe?

I don’t recommend freezing the Garlic Bread and Tomato Bake because the tomatoes are likely to become watery and the cooked egg will go rubbery after freezing. You can freeze garlic bread so that you always have some available to make this recipe. Thaw it out first so that it can soak up all the egg and milk mixture.

Vegetarian

This recipe is suitable for vegetarians as it does not contain any meat.

Gluten Free

Garlic bread contains wheat so a standard garlic baguette would not be suitable. Use a gluten-free french stick and make your own garlic butter to spread on slices. The other ingredient that you should check is the red pesto. It should not contain any gluten, however, please check the label to see if it has been produced in an environment that may cause contamination.

For more information regarding any dietary information provided on this website, please refer to my Nutritional Disclaimer.

How do I serve Garlic Bread and Tomato Bake?

Serve this tasty Garlic Bread and Tomato Bake warm as it is as a lunch or supper dish with a delicious chutney like my Runner Bean Chutney with Tomato & Garlic or Spicy Courgette & Apple Chutney. Add a side salad or a green vegetable such as green beans to make it into a more substantial meal.

More Tomato Recipes

Easy Roast Pepper & Tomato Couscous is a simple side dish that is packed full of juicy summer vegetables. It’s so quick and simple to prepare and is a great dish to serve with halloumi, grilled fish or chicken.

This Simple Tomato Chutney has a lovely sweet and sour flavour. It is packed full of tomato flavour with no chilli or spices. It’s an ideal way to preserve a glut of tomatoes and also makes a great gift.

Easy Tomato & Bacon Tart combines a crisp shortcrust pastry pie shell with sweet juicy tomatoes and salty bacon pieces, all baked in a creamy egg custard. 

Air Fryer Sun Dried Tomatoes are delicious partly dried tomatoes sometimes known as sun blush tomatoes. You can store them in olive oil or freeze to use later. It’s so easy to make these tomatoes in your air fryer and a great way to preserve a summer abundance of tomatoes.

PIN FOR LATER

Garlic Bread and Tomato Bake

Janice Pattie

Make leftover garlic bread into a whole new meal with a few other ingredients that you probably already have in your larder and fridge.

5 from 8 votes

Print Recipe Pin Recipe BookmarkSaved!

Prep Time 10 minutes mins

Cook Time 20 minutes mins

Total Time 30 minutes mins

Course Main Course

Cuisine British, Fusion, Mediterranean

Servings 4

Calories 488 kcal

Ingredients

• 1 garlic baguette
• 6 tomatoes
• 4 eggs
• 100 ml milk
• 2 tbsp red pesto
• 75 g grated cheddar
• 1/4 tsp freshly ground pepper
• A few basil leaves optional

Instructions

 

• Pre – heat the oven to 180C
• Butter the baking dish thoroughly.
  
• 1 garlic baguette
  Slice up the garlic bread and place a layer into the baking dish
  
• 6 tomatoes
  Spoon pesto over the garlic bread and spread it around.
• 2 tbsp red pesto
  Add the tomatoes, whole for cherry tomatoes and sliced for larger tomatoes. Add another layer of bread and pesto
  
• 4 eggs, 100 ml milk
  Beat the eggs and add the milk, pour it over the bread and tomatoes.
  
• 1/4 tsp freshly ground pepper, 75 g grated cheddar
  Season with freshly ground pepper and cover with the grated cheese.
  
• A few basil leaves
  Bake for 20-25 minutes or until risen and golden.
  
• Tear up a few basil leaves (optional) and scatter them over the top.
• Serve with salad.

Notes

Baking time may vary depending on the baking dish.  If you want it to bake quicker then make a single layer in a larger baking dish. 

Nutrition

Calories: 488kcalCarbohydrates: 67gProtein: 25gFat: 14gSaturated Fat: 7gPolyunsaturated Fat: 2gMonounsaturated Fat: 4gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 186mgSodium: 781mgPotassium: 679mgFiber: 5gSugar: 10gVitamin A: 2052IUVitamin C: 26mgCalcium: 258mgIron: 5mg

Don’t Miss My Latest RecipesCLICK TO SUBSCRIBE NOW to join my newsletter list & receive a FREE ‘How To Adapt Recipes For Your Slow Cooker’ printable!

Share by Email