Croutons are small pieces of bread, which has been re-baked or fried. In preparation, the bread is usually cut into cubes and flavored with olive oil and spices. Although the term is derived from the French word "croute", signifying “crust”, the exact origin of croutons is not fully known.
History of croutons
Due to the widespread use of croutons in French cuisine, their history is always associated with France. Not by chance, it is the French who celebrate National Crouton Day every year on 13 Maybe. There are actually theories about their earlier discovery, right from the time of the biblical flood.
Preparation and applications of croutons
There are numerous recipes for the preparation and flavoring of croutons. "Classic" croutons are just baked and covered with olive oil. Other recipes enrich the taste with different spices such as basil, savory, oregano, samardala, garlic, chili and others.
Mainly, croutons are used as side dishes for salads and thicker ones (cream) soups. One of the most popular dishes with croutons is the Caesar salad and cream the soups – potato, mushroom, tomato and spinach.
Here are some pro tips for homemade crispy croutons
Making homemade croutons is extremely easy! This recipe yields golden brown croutons, which are crispy on the outside, chewy inside and very full flavored! Homemade croutons are the perfect way to use up leftover bread. Not to speak, they will make your house smell amazing, while baking!
Cut the bread into cubes with a knife. Make sure, that the croutons are the same size, so they bake evenly. Drizzle with oil and spices. Place the sliced bread in a large bowl and drizzle with olive oil. Sprinkle with spices and mix again. Spread the croutons on baking paper. Professional advice: Make sure, that the croutons are distributed in an even layer. Avoid overcrowding the baking tray or the croutons will not bake evenly. Bake until golden brown and crispy. Use croutons immediately or let them cool to room temperature and store in a ziplock bag.
How to keep homemade croutons crispy? To keep the croutons crispy, store them in a zip lock bag, with all air removed from the bag before sealing. Air or humidity will cause the croutons to go stale and soften. Store the sachet at room temperature.
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