If you are looking for a way to use old bread or need breadcrumbs for a recipe, know that you can easily make it at home. You can get fresh and soft crumbs by shredding fresh bread in a food processor or baking it in the oven for a dry product; if you don't have a food processor, you can also toast slices of sliced bread and grate them. Regardless of the method you choose, remember to then store everything in an airtight container at room temperature.
Ingrediants
Fresh Breadcrumbs
For 100 g
4 slices of old or lightly toasted white bread
Dry the Fresh Breadcrumbs
For 180 g
- 4 slices of old or lightly toasted white bread
- 15 ml of extra virgin olive oil (optional)
- Fresh herbs, cheese, citrus peel (optional)
Dry Breadcrumbs
For 90-180 g
1 loaf
Toasted Breadcrumbs in a Pan
For 90 g
- 70 g of bread cubes (made from about 1/4 of a white loaf)
- 45 ml of olive oil
- Coarse salt to taste
Steps
Method 1 of 4: Fresh Breadcrumbs
Step 1. Coarsely tear the slices of white bread
Take four, you can use the old ones of a couple of days or the fresh ones; alternatively, you can also lightly toast them in the toaster and then cut them into small pieces.
Use your favorite type of bread. If you need white breadcrumbs, take some white breadcrumbs and cut off the crust; if you prefer wholemeal breadcrumbs, use the soft one without removing the crust
Step 2. Work the pieces in the food processor
Transfer them to the appliance and chop them until you get a coarse mixture; avoid chopping them for too long, otherwise they become rubbery and can clog the blades. You can use the breadcrumbs immediately or store it in an airtight container.
If you don't have a food processor, you can use a coffee or spice grinder; you can also freeze the slices of bread until they are hard enough to grate
Step 3. Use fresh breadcrumbs
This product absorbs a lot of moisture and is therefore perfect for baked recipes; Consider using it for meatballs, fish balls, or meatloaf. During cooking in the oven it becomes slightly crunchy.
Method 2 of 4: Dry the Fresh Breadcrumbs
Step 1. Preheat the oven and place the bread on a baking tray
Turn on the appliance and set it to 180 ° C; take a large pan with high sides and cover it with about 100 g of fresh breadcrumbs.
Step 2. Bake the bread in the oven for 3-5 minutes
Insert the baking tray in the preheated oven and wait for the bread to turn golden and dry; this will take 3-5 minutes. Before using the product, wait until it has completely cooled down.
If one area of the oven heats more than another, you should stir the bread halfway through cooking
Step 3. Consider flavoring it
You can enrich the flavor with 15 ml of extra virgin olive oil and mix the bread with these aromas:
- Lemon peel;
- Fresh chopped aromatic herbs;
- Crushed red pepper flakes;
- Grated Parmesan cheese;
- Blend of dried aromatic herbs.
Step 4. Use toasted breadcrumbs
This ingredient enriches the dishes giving a crunchy texture; try sprinkling it on pasta, roasted vegetables, or thick soups. You can bread foods before stir-frying them to make them really greedy.
Store leftovers in an airtight container at room temperature; they last up to a month
Method 3 of 4: Dry Breadcrumbs
Step 1. Preheat the oven and slice the bread
Turn on the appliance and set the temperature to 120 ° C; take a loaf and cut it into thick slices. If you don't have a food processor, don't chop it any further, otherwise cut it into cubes.
Step 2. Place the bread on the baking tray and bake for 10 minutes
Try to make a single layer of cubes or evenly space the slices. Put it in the preheated oven and cook it for 10 minutes; wait for it to cool completely before proceeding to the next step.
The bread should dry out completely; if it's really very moist, cook it for an extra couple of minutes
Step 3. Chop it up with the food processor or grate it
If you have an appliance, insert the toasted cubes and chop them until you get a fine mixture; alternatively, take the slices of bread and grate them manually. Continue like this until you have used up all the slices.
You can put the dry bread in a plastic bag and mash it with a rolling pin to reduce it to a powder
Step 4. Cook with breadcrumbs
To enrich the texture of the dishes, sprinkle the bread on pasta, flans, grilled vegetables or stews; it is also perfect in thick soups and roasted vegetables. Store leftovers in an airtight container and at room temperature for up to a month.
Method 4 of 4: Pan-fried Toasted Breadcrumbs
Step 1. Tear off the bread
Take a loaf of your favorite bread or a homemade sandwich and cut 1/4 of it to make the breadcrumbs; tear it and cut it to obtain about 70 g of bread cubes.
If desired, remove the crust to obtain a completely white breadcrumbs; you can use either the fresh one or the old one
Step 2. Chop it for fresh breadcrumbs
Transfer the cubes to the food processor and activate the pulse appliance until you get a coarse mixture; if you chop the bread for too long, you turn it into a chewy product that blocks the blades.
Step 3. Sauté it in a pan with a little oil
Pour 45 ml of olive oil into a pan, turn on the stove over medium-high heat and add the breadcrumbs while stirring; continue cooking for 5 minutes without stopping stirring. Once the toasting is done, the bread should turn golden and crisp.
Step 4. Spice it up and let it cool
Sprinkle it with coarse salt according to your taste; cover a plate with kitchen paper and transfer the breadcrumbs to it to dry. Wait until it becomes cold before using it in your recipes.
