SHE HAS CRAVINGS

SNACKY CROUTONS

Here’s a propaganda I’m not falling for: croutons are only for soups and salads.

I think croutons, when seasoned well, can shine on their own and make the most delicious snack. Healthier than store-bought chips too! Ready in less than 15 mins, make this in bulk and store in an airtight jar to enjoy whenever you’re in need of a crispy snack.

INGREDIENTS

  • 3-4 Slices of Bread (sliced into small cubes)
  • 125g Butter (melted)
  • 1 Tsp Garlic Powder
  • 1 Tsp Dried Mixed Herbs
  • 2 Tbsp Grated Parmesan Cheese
  • A Pinch of Salt

HOW TO MAKE IT

  1. In a bowl, mix together melted butter, garlic powder, dried mixed herbs, grated parmesan cheese and a pinch of salt.
  2. Slice 3-4 slices of bread into small cubes and toss into the butter herb mixture.
  3. Mix well until bread cubes are well-coated with the butter herb.
  4. Toss bread cubes into the air fryer making sure they’re not piled on top of one another (or else they won’t be crispy) and cook for 8-10 mins at 180 degrees celcius or until croutons are golden brown and crispy. Note: The croutons will continue to harden during the cooling process so don’t worry if they’re not as “hard” or crispy immediately after air frying.
  5. Wait until slightly cool and serve as a snack or store in an airtight container for a later consumption.

FAQ

  1. What kind of bread should I use? Any white bread will do! I’ve used Shokupan before and it is soooo delicious. I just decreased the bread quantity to 1 and 1/2 or 2 slices only as Shokupans are generally thicker by slice – this is applicable to any larger/thicker breads e.g Brioche, Sourdough.
  2. Don’t you have to wait for the bread to turn stale to make croutons? Not necessarily! Stale breads are great for croutons as they’re already a little dried out so you don’t have to bake/air fry them for too long to achieve the desired crispiness but working with fresh bread works just fine.
  3. I don’t have garlic powder – can I use fresh garlic? Yes you may! Take around 3-4 cloves and finely mince before adding them into your melted butter.
  4. Can I use any other herbs besides mixed herbs? You can but make sure they’re dried herbs e.g dried rosemary, dried thyme etc. Mixed herbs work best though in terms of flavour!
  5. How do you melt butter? I place mine in a bowl and microwave for 15-20 seconds. You can also melt your butter in a small pot over the stove!
  6. I don’t have an air fryer – can I use an oven? You definitely can! Baking in the oven also works best if you’re making a large batch. Bake on a baking tray for 10-15 mins at 175 degrees. Make sure the bread cubes are not on top of one another/too close with each other. You must also toss them around half way so they’re baked all around and end up crispy.