Homemade Whole-Grain Croutons with Olive Oil

With crunchy texture and herbed flavors, croutons are indispensable in salads and other dishes. You can buy them at the store, but there are so many reasons to make your own croutons. 

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Here are just a few reasons to try this recipe.

• It’s fun and satisfying to make your own croutons.
• They’re healthier than store bought versions due to ingredients like whole-grain bread and olive oil.
• They’re less expensive than store bought croutons, and you can use up stale bread.
• You can use the exact blend of flavors and seasonings you want.

Use your favorite whole-wheat or another whole-grain bread for croutons that are higher in fiber and antioxidants than store bought varieties. Use stale bread or leave the slices out for a few hours or overnight to dry them out more. You can also toast them for 2 minutes before cutting them to dry them out. 

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Keep these croutons in the fridge or freezer for weeks and use them when you need them for so many possible purposes.

• On salads and soups
• In stuffing for chicken or turkey
• As a topping over casseroles, mac and cheese, or roasted vegetables
• Crushed as a breading for baked fried chicken or fish

The basic recipe calls for Italian herbs and garlic powder, but you can vary it to balance the flavors in your meal. Here are some ideas for ingredients you can swap for the garlic powder, onion powder, and dried basil, thyme, and oregano listed in the recipe.

• Lemon pepper with lemon zest, black pepper and (optional) peppercorns
• Garlic herb with minced garlic and chopped parsley, dill, and sage or thyme
• Spicy chili with chili powder, red pepper flakes, and (optional) cumin
• Rosemary parmesan with fresh rosemary and grated parmesan cheese
• Sesame wasabi with wasabi powder, sesame seeds, and low-sodium soy sauce

Recipe for Homemade Whole-Grain Croutons with Olive Oil

Makes 4 large servings

Ingredients:

• 4 slices of stale whole-wheat or other whole-grain bread, cut into 1-inch cubes
• 2 tablespoons of olive oil
• ½-1 teaspoon of garlic powder
• ½ teaspoon of onion powder
• ½ teaspoon of dried basil
• ½ teaspoon of dried thyme
• ½ teaspoon of dried oregano
• Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions: 

1. Preheat the oven to 375°F.
2. If the bread isn’t stale, toast it slightly to dry it a bit.
3. In a large bowl, add the bread, olive oil, and seasonings. Toss well to coat the bread cubes evenly.
4. Spread the coated bread cubes in a single layer on a baking sheet. Bake for 10-15 minutes, tossing halfway, until the croutons are golden brown and crisp.
5. Let the croutons cool before serving or storing.

Nutrition information per serving: 120 calories; 6 grams total fat; 1 gram saturated fat; 250 mg sodium; 15 grams carbohydrates; 2 grams fiber; 1 gram sugar; 3 grams protein

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