Chef John’s Homemade Croutons
Don't discard stale baguettes! Transform them into these easy-to-make garlic-parmesan croutons, perfect for adding a crunchy finishing touch to salads and soups.
Ingredients
- ½ cup olive oil
- 4 cloves garlic, finely minced
- 1 (8 ounce) loaf French bread baguette, cut into 1/2-inch cubes
- ¾ cup finely grated Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese, divided
- ½ teaspoon Italian seasoning
- ½ teaspoon paprika
- ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 pinch cayenne pepper
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 300. Line a baking sheet with a silicone baking mat.
- Stir olive oil and garlic together in a bowl. Let sit at room temperature until flavors are infused, about 3 hours.
- Place bread cubes in a large bowl. Pour garlic oil through a strainer onto the bread; toss to coat bread with oil. Add 1/2 cup Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese, Italian seasoning, paprika, black pepper, salt, and cayenne pepper; toss to coat. Spread bread cubes out in a single layer on the prepared baking sheet.
- Bake in the preheated oven for 15 minutes. Turn croutons and bake 15 minutes more. Push croutons together with a spatula so that they are in a compact rectangle on the baking sheet and no longer spread out; sprinkle remaining 1/4 cup cheese over the top. Bake until cheese is melted, and the bread is crispy and crunchy, 10 to 15 minutes more.
Nutrition
Calories: 474kcalCarbohydrates: 34gProtein: 13gFat: 32gSaturated Fat: 7gCholesterol: 13mgSodium: 890mgPotassium: 118mgFiber: 2gSugar: 2gVitamin C: 1mgCalcium: 202mgIron: 3mg
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