Loaf with Melted Cheese

Here’s a simple recipe for a loaf with melted cheese, a dish that can serve as comfort food or the centerpiece of a casual dinner with friends.

Ingredients

• 1 rustic bread loaf (like a homemade bread)
• 200 g of stringy cheese (like mozzarella or fontina), cut into cubes
• 100 g of cheddar cheese, grated
• 2 tablespoons of melted butter
• 2 cloves of garlic, finely chopped
• 1 tablespoon of chopped chives
• Salt and pepper to taste
• (Optional) Pickled spicy peppers or sliced

Preparation

1. Preheat the oven to 180 °C.
2. With a sharp knife, cut the loaf in a grid pattern, making sure not to cut through the bottom, leaving the base of the bread intact.
3. Insert the stringy cheese cubes into the horizontal and vertical slits of the bread.
4. Mix the melted butter with garlic, salt, and pepper and pour this mixture over the bread, ensuring it gets well into the slits with the cheese.
5. Sprinkle the grated cheddar on top of the loaf.
6. Wrap the bread in aluminum foil.
7. Bake in the preheated oven for 15-20 minutes, then uncover the bread and bake for another 10 minutes or until the cheese is well melted and golden.
8. Sprinkle with chopped chives and peppers (if using) before serving.

For an Italian twist, you might use a mix of buffalo mozzarella and Parmesan for a more intense flavor and a crispy crust. Additionally, you could add cooked or raw ham in the slits with the cheese for a touch of sour and salty flavor.

Curiosity

This melted cheese loaf is often called “checkerboard loaf” due to the grid pattern that resembles a chessboard. It’s a dish that has gained popularity in the United States for its convivial and easy-sharing characteristics, especially during sports gatherings or holidays.