Homemade Croutons
User Reviews
5
Homemade Croutons
Description
These Homemade Croutons start with thick slices of country bread cut into cubes and tossed with olive oil gently infused with smashed garlic. Baking the bread cubes at 350°F crisps them evenly until golden and crunchy, perfect for adding texture to salads or soups. The use of garlic oil rather than raw garlic allows the flavor to permeate the croutons while avoiding harshness. Sea salt adjusts seasoning and dried parsley adds a mild herbal note once baked.
The method allows for grilling the bread as an alternative to baking, using olive oil and rubbing the grilled bread with garlic for a slightly smoky, charred flavor. This gives a variation in taste and texture with grill marks and a firmer crust. Both techniques produce crisp, flavorful croutons that bring extra dimension to dishes requiring bread crunch.
Ingredients
- ¼ cup extra-virgin olive oil
- 2 garlic smashed or halved, cloves
- 8 country bread about 4 cups cubed, thick slices
- salt sea salt
- parsley dried or desired seasonings
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F and line a large baking sheet with parchment paper.
- In a small saucepan, gently heat the olive oil and smashed garlic until aromatic, about 1 minute. Remove from the heat.
- Cut the bread into cubes and place them on the baking sheet. Remove the garlic from the saucepan and drizzle the garlic oil over the bread. Sprinkle with sea salt, toss to coat, and spread the bread in a single layer on the baking sheet. Bake for 10 to 18 minutes or until golden brown and crisp. The timing will depend on your bread and how crispy you like your croutons. Sprinkle with dried parsley.
- For grilled croutons: Drizzle whole bread slices with olive oil and grill until lightly charred. Use the cut-side of a halved piece of garlic to rub garlic onto the hot bread. Slice the grilled bread into cubes.
User Reviews
Overall Rating
5
You'll Also Love
