Our everyday eating patterns, especially when trying to eat healthfully, can become mundane.
Sprinkling in a fun ingredient—like these herbed croutons--creates pops of joy that allow us to sustain healthy eating over the long term. They make salads and vegetable soups fun so that we eat them consistently over the long term.
And, let’s be honest, who hasn’t popped a handful in your mouth as a snack? I’m guilty as charged.
So, go ahead and buy that larger loaf of bread…so you can make and have on hand these delicious pops of fun.
Gluten-Free Herbed Croutons
(Gluten-free; Dairy-free/Plant-based option; Can be made with regular bread)
Ingredients:
1 loaf of stale gluten-free bread** (or regular bread, if you prefer)
¼ cup olive oil
Pat of butter (substitute with plant-based butter for vegan/dairy-free option)
½ tsp garlic powder
½ tsp onion powder
1 ½ tsp salt
½ Tbsp minced fresh rosemary
½ Tbsp minced fresh thyme
Directions:
Preheat oven to 350F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Cut loaf of stale bread into equal, bite-sized cubes and spread evenly onto the baking sheet. In a small saucepan over medium heat, gently warm and mix together the olive oil, butter, garlic and onion powders, salt, rosemary and thyme, no more than 1-2 minutes. Generously brush all sides of the bread cubes with the herbed oil mixture. Bake for 25-35 minutes, tossing half-way through, until the bread cubes become crispy and crunchy. The more moisture in the bread to start, the longer the baking time you’ll need.
Notes:
* Any type of bread will work—French, Italian, Ciabatta, etc. I, personally, like a dense, whole-grain, seeded bread as they make for really flavorful, highly crunchy croutons while also providing health benefits from the nutrient-dense bread option
* For those with celiac disease, choose a certified gluten-free packaged bread and/or one made in a dedicated gluten-free kitchen/facility