Lunch: Bite-Size Garlic Bread with Fresh Herbs

Recipe by Ludo Lefebvre These irresistible garlic bread bites can be served as an appetizer or a snack. If you have leftovers (though we doubt you will!), try them sprinkled over soups or salads.

Ingredients

1 loaf miche or rustic sourdough bread, crust removed, cut into 1-inch cubes
3 tablespoons white wine
4 garlic cloves, very finely minced
1 1/2 sticks (12 tablespoons) high-quality salted butter, at room temperature
1 teaspoon red-pepper flakes
1 teaspoon dried oregano
3/4 teaspoon kosher salt
2 tablespoons chopped flat-leaf parsley
2 tablespoons chopped chives

Instructions

Preheat oven to 450 °F. Spread cubed bread on a rimmed baking sheet. Toast until browned but still soft inside, 7 to 10 minutes.
Meanwhile, place the white wine and garlic in a small pot. Bring to a simmer over medium heat and reduce the wine until almost all of the liquid has evaporated, 3 to 4 minutes. (Be careful not to reduce too much and scorch the wine and the garlic.) Scrape wine-garlic mixture into a medium bowl.
Add the butter, red-pepper flakes, oregano, and salt to the bowl with the wine-garlic mixture. Use a wooden spoon to fully incorporate the ingredients into the butter. Leave at room temperature until serving.
Spread a generous amount (about 3/4 teaspoon) of the flavored butter onto one side of each toast cube. Arrange toast cubes buttered side up on the rimmed baking sheet and return to oven until butter is melted, 3 to 5 minutes.
Arrange the cubes on a serving platter and sprinkle with herbs. Serve immediately.
The flavored butter can be made up to 3 days in advance and stored in the refrigerator.