Description
This Garlic Crouton Recipe yields perfectly crispy, golden-crusted croutons with a flavorful garlic and red pepper infusion. Sautéed in olive oil until crunchy, these croutons make an excellent addition to salads, soups, or as a savory snack.
Ingredients
Scale
Ingredients
- 3 tablespoons olive oil
- 2 thick slices crusty Italian bread, cut into 1/2 inch cubes
- 2 cloves garlic, smashed
- 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
Instructions
- Prepare the Olive Oil: Coat a large sauté pan with approximately 3 tablespoons of olive oil. You can add more if necessary to ensure the bread cubes will be well coated.
- Sauté Garlic and Red Pepper: Add the smashed garlic cloves and crushed red pepper flakes to the pan and cook over medium heat until the garlic becomes translucent and fragrant, about 3 minutes. This infuses the oil with flavor.
- Add Bread Cubes: Toss in the cubed bread pieces and stir them thoroughly to coat evenly with the garlic-infused oil and red pepper flakes.
- Cook Until Crisp: Continue cooking and stirring the bread cubes over medium heat until they turn crusty, golden brown, and fully crisped. This usually takes about 10-12 minutes.
- Cool and Store: Remove the croutons from heat and allow them to cool completely. Once cooled, store them in an airtight container to maintain their crispness.
Notes
- Use crusty Italian or sourdough bread for the best texture.
- Adjust the amount of crushed red pepper flakes to your spice preference.
- Ensure the bread cubes are dry to achieve maximum crispiness.
- Store croutons in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 1 week.
- For a stronger garlic flavor, you can finely mince the garlic instead of smashing it, but be careful not to burn it.
