Best 3 Croutons Toasted French Bread Slices Recipes
**Croutons: The Perfect Addition to Your Salads, Soups, and More**
Croutons are a versatile and delicious addition to a variety of dishes, from salads and soups to casseroles and stuffings. They add a delightful crunch and savory flavor that can elevate any meal. Making croutons at home is easy and allows you to customize them to your liking.
This article provides three different recipes for croutons, each with its own unique flavor profile. The first recipe is for classic croutons made with butter, garlic, and herbs. The second recipe is for cheesy croutons that are perfect for topping salads or soups. The third recipe is for spicy croutons that will add a kick to your favorite dishes.
No matter which recipe you choose, you're sure to enjoy the delicious and versatile croutons that you make at home. So gather your ingredients and get started!
PLAIN TOASTED CROUTONS
Steps:
- Preheat the oven to 350°F. Remove the crusts from the bread and slice into 1/2-inch strips and then the strips into 1/2-inch cubes, to make 4 cups. Spread the cubes in a single layer on a cookie sheet and set in the oven for about 10 minutes, turning once or twice, until lightly toasted on all sides. Spread the cubes on a tray to cool before using or freezing.
FRENCH BREAD CROUTONS
Actually you could use any day old bread-day old being the key words. I like the airiness and texture of croutons prepared with French bread however. Specifically, what I mean by "bland" oil is any unflavored oil such as vegetable, corn, etc. Olive oil will work out fine though.
Provided by COOKGIRl
Categories < 30 Mins
Time 25m
Yield 6 cups
Number Of Ingredients 5
Steps:
- Preheat oven to 350 degree. Make sure oven rack is in the middle or top position in oven so that croutons do not burn.
- Cut bread into 1/2" cubes. In a clean, dry plastic grocery bag place the bread cubes, oil, garlic powder, onion powder and Italian seasoning, if using.
- Tie bag in loose knot; shake bag to distribute ingredients well. Arrange the bread cubes singly on an aluminum baking sheet.
- Bake the cubes for approximately 12 minutes or until golden brown. Turn the baking sheet and stir the bread cubes after 6 minutes so that they bake evenly.
- Once the croutons are browned, stir them one more time, turn off the oven but leave the baking sheet with croutons in the oven.
- Keep croutons in oven until they are at room temperature then transfer to airtight container.
- Other herb choices: lemon pepper, dillweed, Cavender's Greek seasoning, etc.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 372.6, Fat 12.3, SaturatedFat 1.9, Sodium 649.6, Carbohydrate 55.4, Fiber 3.2, Sugar 0.3, Protein 9.4
TORN CROUTONS
Store-bought croutons simply can't compete with homemade ones. To begin with, your raw ingredients are almost certainly of a higher quality, and hence more delicious, than the stuff anyone else will use. What's more, the rustic, uneven shape of torn croutons, like these croutons from "Salt, Fat, Acid, Heat" by Samin Nosrat, lends a variety of textures to your salads. Dressing clings to them better, they're more lovely to look at, and they are less likely to scratch the roof of your mouth.
Provided by Samin Nosrat
Time 30m
Yield 8 cups
Number Of Ingredients 3
Steps:
- Heat oven to 400 degrees. For more teeth-friendly croutons, remove the crusts from the bread, then cut the loaf into inch-thick slices. Cut each slice into inch-wide strips. Working over a large bowl, tear each strip into inch-size pieces. Alternatively, you can tear croutons directly off the loaf, as long as you get somewhat evenly sized pieces.
- Toss croutons with olive oil to coat them evenly, then spread them out in a single layer on a baking sheet. Use a second sheet as needed to prevent crowding, which will entrap steam and keep the croutons from browning.
- Toast croutons for about 18 to 22 minutes, checking them after 8 minutes. Rotate the pans, switch their oven positions, and use a metal spatula to turn and rotate the croutons so that they brown evenly. Once they begin to brown, check them every few minutes, continuing to turn and rotate. Some croutons might be done when others still need a few more minutes of baking, so remove them from the tray and let the rest finish cooking. Bake the croutons until they're golden brown and crunchy on the outside, with just a tiny bit of chew on the inside.
- Taste a crouton and adjust the seasoning with a light sprinkling of salt if needed. Let croutons cool in a single layer on the baking sheet. Use immediately or keep in an airtight container for up to 2 days. To refresh stale croutons, bake for 3 to 4 minutes at 400 degrees.
Nutrition Facts : @context http, Calories 234, UnsaturatedFat 8 grams, Carbohydrate 29 grams, Fat 10 grams, Fiber 1 gram, Protein 6 grams, SaturatedFat 2 grams, Sodium 342 milligrams, Sugar 3 grams, TransFat 0 grams
Tips:
- Use stale bread: Stale bread is less likely to fall apart when it's toasted, making it the ideal choice for croutons. If you don't have any stale bread on hand, you can make your own by leaving a loaf of fresh bread out at room temperature for a few days.
- Cut the bread into cubes: The size of your croutons is up to you, but 1-inch cubes are a good starting point. If you're making croutons for a salad, you might want to cut them a little smaller so that they're easier to eat.
- Toss the bread cubes with oil and seasoning: This will help the croutons to brown evenly and prevent them from becoming dry. You can use any type of oil you like, but olive oil is a classic choice. As for seasoning, salt and pepper are always a good starting point, but you can also add other herbs and spices to taste.
- Toast the bread cubes in the oven: Spread the bread cubes in a single layer on a baking sheet and bake them in a preheated oven at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 10-15 minutes, or until they're golden brown and crispy. Be sure to toss the bread cubes halfway through baking so that they brown evenly.
- Let the croutons cool before using them: This will help them to crisp up and become even more flavorful.
Conclusion:
Croutons are a delicious and versatile addition to many dishes. They can be used to add crunch to salads, soups, and casseroles, or they can be served as a snack on their own. With a few simple ingredients and a little bit of time, you can easily make your own croutons at home. Here are a few ideas for how to use croutons:- Add them to a salad for a crunchy topping.
- Sprinkle them on top of soup or chili for an extra layer of flavor.
- Use them as a breadcrumb topping for casseroles or baked dishes.
- Serve them as a snack with your favorite dip.
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