Why buy croutons when you can make them easily at home, using ingredients in almost every pantry? If you don’t know how to, no worries; we’ve got the perfect guide to show you how to make perfect homemade croutons.
What are Croutons?
A crouton is a small piece of bread, usually cut into cubes and baked. Sometimes, they’re cut into rustic chunks and can also be fried in butter or oil. Most often, they are used as a garnish for soups. However, they’re also used to add texture and flavour to dishes such as soups and salads. One of the most famous dishes using croutons is the classic Caesar salad. Croutons can also be eaten as snack food.
The name for a crouton is derived from French and loosely means “little crust.” Croutons can sometimes be called croutes, and the terms are used interchangeably. However, a croute traditionally refers to a long slice of baguette brushed with oil or clarified butter and baked.
How to Make Homemade Croutons
Traditionally, stale or old bread is used to make croutons. However, fresh bread can also be used if needed. They were probably first prepared to keep stale bread longer since the cooked crouton will last longer than the once-fresh bread. In terms of what type of bread to use, anything will work. For this recipe, I used regular white bread. However, I used torn ciabatta for the croutons in my chicken Caesar salad. You could also use wholemeal bread or a mix of different breads.
Remove the crusts from the slices of regular sandwich bread for these homemade croutons. Cut the bread into cubes, then season them with salt, pepper, olive oil, and whatever seasonings you want. I like using rosemary and garlic as they add deep, intense, earthy flavours that work well with most savoury recipes. However, you can use any of the woody herbs you like. Add salt to taste.
How to Make Homemade Croutons
Ingredients
Method
- Preheat the oven to 200C or 180C Fan or 400F or Gas 6
- Slice the crusts of the bread, then cut into equal-sized cubs.
- Mix the olive oil, rosemary, garlic, salt, and pepper in a small bowl.
- Toss the diced bread in the olive oil mixture and mix well to ensure an even coating.
- Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and lay the seasoned cubes flat.
- Bake in the centre of the oven for 10 minutes, mix the croutons, and then return to the oven for 5 to 10 minutes or until the croutons are deliciously golden brown.
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