Croutons with garlic

Step-by-step cooking

1. Step 1:

   

   Prepare the ingredients. What kind of bread will do? You can make croutons from white homemade or toasted bread, French baguette (it is better if the bakery products are not very fresh). Remove the melted butter from the refrigerator in advance so that it melts. Or melt it in the microwave or in a water bath.

2. Step 2:

   

   Cut the bread into small cubes (about 1 cm). If the crust is hard, it is better to cut it off.

3. Step 3:

   

   Peel the garlic. Finely chop the cloves with a knife or pass them through a press.

4. Step 4:

   

   Combine melted butter and garlic in a suitable container. Mix it up.

5. Step 5:

   

   Add dry spices. I used an Uzbek mixture that contains turmeric, red pepper, cumin, sumac, barberry. You can take any other spices to your liking, for example, Provencal herbs.

6. Step 6:

   

   Stir the mixture well.

8. Step 7:

   

   Place the bread cubes in an even layer on a baking sheet. There is no need to lubricate it beforehand. But you can cover the baking sheet with parchment or a silicone mat, so that it is easier to wash it after cooking.

9. Step 8:

   

   Pour the future croutons evenly in portions with a mixture of oil and garlic. Stir so that they are covered with a fragrant oil mixture on all sides. Preheat the oven to 180 degrees in advance (10-15 minutes before cooking). Bake.

10. Step 9:

    

    After about 5 minutes, when the croutons on top turn golden, stir them for even roasting. Then return the baking sheet back to the oven so that the crackers are browned on the other side as well.

11. Step 10:

    

    Remove the bread slices from the oven. Sprinkle them with salt to taste. Let them cool down. Some croutons may still be soft – they will reach when they cool down. The main thing here is not to over-dry them in the oven.

12. Step 11:

    

    How to store croutons? When they are completely cooled, transfer them to a hermetically sealed container. Croutons are stored for several weeks, so you can immediately cook a large amount.