Parmesan croutons

Croutons are considered the crunchy superstars of salads and soups. These crispy pieces of old bread turned into solid works of delicious goodness, and they can add flair to your dishes. There are several ways to spruce up your croutons using different cheeses and spices.

Using Parmesan cheese adds extra nuttiness to croutons. An alternative to Parmesan is Mature Cheddar, which will add extra sharpness.

Have you ever wondered where croutons came from? The crouton’s origins are in France. The French had to devise ways to salvage leftover bread and realized that reheating hard, dry bread makes it crunchier.

The word “crouton” comes from the French word “croûton,” which means “small crust.” It began gaining popularity in French cuisine, typically as a garnish for soups and salads.

Wasting bread was considered a faux pas. That’s how toasting the leftover bread and turning it into croutons became a common practice for the people of Europe. The dry and hard bread was cut into small cubes before being toasted and eaten with soups or stews.

They are now very popular worldwide, especially in the United States. They are mass-produced and readily available in stores, seasoned with many types of flavours. Making it at home is healthier than store-bought versions.

Why choose homemade croutons?

Now, you might think, why make croutons when you can buy them in the stores? Yes, it’s true, purchasing store-bought croutons is convenient, but they often lack freshness and can be salty.

When you make them at home, you can control how much seasoning you want to add, avoid adding preservatives and artificial flavours and customizing them according to your preference. So before you throw away that old baguette, consider re-purposing it into a stash of delicious crunchiness.

Ingredients

A dry hard baguette, Garlic clove, Parmesan cheese, salt, pepper, butter and parsley.

The key to making the best croutons is to use sturdy rustic bread, such as baguette, ciabatta, or sourdough. When dried, these breads hold their shape and absorb all the flavors without getting soft or mushy.

There are two ways to make croutons: on the stovetop or in the oven. This recipe follows the stovetop method, but there is information on how to bake it in the oven. More details about the oven method are below.

Instructions

Prepare the ingredients: First, slice the baguette into 1-inch-thick slices. Then, cut them into 1-inch cubes. Finely mince the garlic cloves.

Toast the bread cubes: Melt the butter in a preheated pan on low heat. Add the minced garlic and the cubed bread. Toss to coat the bread cubes with butter and toast them for five to eight minutes.

You can skip the stove-top method and bake it in the oven for twenty minutes at a heat of 160 degrees. Simply add the cubed bread to a baking tray with parchment paper. Drizzle with olive oil and melted butter. Add the finely minced garlic cloves with salt and black/white pepper. After it has baked, remove it from the oven and sprinkle with grated Parmesan cheese and finely chopped parsley. (Substitute with dried parsley)

How to Enjoy the Parmesan and Parsley Croutons

One of the best ways to enjoy the Parmesan and parsley croutons is to add them to the Caesar salad. They add extra texture and flavour to the salad. The Parmesan cheese adds nuttiness, while the parsley adds a touch of freshness. Smaller croutons are more suitable for salads as they are easier to chew with the vegetables. 

Creamy Soup Toppings add a crunchy texture to a creamy soup. Light soups pair well with large slices of bread or buns, and creamy soups pair well with crispy croutons. Eat with potato soup, mushroom soup, tomato soup, simple green salad, and cauliflower soup.

Adding Parmesan and parsley croutons to fettuccine Alfredo or carbonara adds flavour and texture to the creamy dish. They absorb the rich sauce and create an interesting flavour profile. Parmesan and parsley croutons are tasty snacks on their own. They can also serve as a quick and easy appetizer with pesto or dipping sauce.

How to Store Parmesan and Parsley Croutons?

The stovetop method ensures that the croutons stay crispy and crunchy for up to five hours. After the croutons have cooled, add them to an airtight Tupperware container to maintain the crunch. If you want extra crunch for the whole week, bake them in the oven. Add them to an airtight container and enjoy.