Healthy Homemade Croutons Recipe
Ingredients
- 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
- 2 cloves garlic (minced)
- 3 tablespoons unsalted butter
- kosher salt
- freshly ground black pepper
- 3 cups rustic bread or baguette* (crust removed and bread cut into ¾-inch cubes)
Optional Seasonings:
- crushed red pepper**
- 4 tablespoons finely grated Parmesan cheese
Instructions
- 1
Preheat
- 2
Place oven rack to middle position, and preheat to 375°F.
- 3
Whisk
- 4
In a small bowl, whisk the olive oil with the minced garlic for 30 seconds.
- 5
Press
- 6
Pour the olive oil/garlic mixture through a fine mesh sieve set over a large bowl. Press the garlic with a rubber spatula or the back of a wooden spoon to extract as much garlic oil as possible. Reserve the garlic for another use.
- 7
Microwave the butter, in a small bowl, at 30% power for 20-40 seconds. The butter could bubble over, so watch closely in the last 10 seconds. Add it to the olive oil/garlic mixture and stir well.
- 8
Toss
- 9
Add the salt, black pepper, and your favorite herbs/seasonings to the butter/oil mixture, then add the bread cubes. Toss until the cubes are evenly coated in the oil/butter mixture.
- 10
Bake
- 11
Pour the croutons onto a rimmed baking sheet and bake 15-25 minutes, or until golden brown and crisp.
25 min - 12
Sprinkle
- 13
Remove from the oven***, sprinkle with the Parmesan cheese, and toss until all croutons are covered. Allow to cool completely.
Nutrition
Per serving (based on 6 servings)
