Croutons
Croutons are small pieces of bread, sometimes seasoned, that are fried or baked with butter or vegetable oil, and served as a side dish to various meals, primarily salads (such as Caesar salad) and soups.
Ingredients
- 3 cups of bread cut into cubes ((baguette, sourdough, Italian, sliced, etc.))
- 3 tablespoons of olive oil (1 tablespoon per cup of bread)
- 2 cloves of minced garlic
- 2 tablespoons of grated cheese (Parmesan, Grana, or similar)
- 1 teaspoon of dried oregano (optional)
Method · 20 min
- To cut bread: cut the bread into small cubes about 2cm on each side. If using sliced bread, remove the crust before cutting.
- Preheat: Preheat oven to 180 degrees Celsius.
- Garlic and oil: mix the olive oil with the garlic and pass them through a fine-mesh strainer; press with a silicone spatula to extract all the oil.
- Mix: In a large bowl, combine the bread cubes, oil, and 2 tablespoons of grated cheese; if desired, add oregano (or other dried herbs).
- Baking: Transfer the bread to a baking sheet lined with parchment paper; spread it out evenly and bake for about 15 to 20 minutes, until the cubes are golden brown and crispy.
- Finishing: Let cool and serve; the croutons will become firmer and crispier after cooling.
- Storage: Store in a sealed container for up to 7 days.
Croutons add flavor and crunch to dishes. Besides their common use in soups and salads, they are also served as an appetizer, alongside cheeses, hams, and cold cuts.
Crouton recipe
Our crouton recipe is quite simple and can be made with a variety of breads. In particular, we recommend sourdough breads, which will have plenty of crunch and flavor.
You can use fresh or stale bread. Stale bread is easier to cut into cubes, especially if it has been stored in the refrigerator.
