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Garlic Croutons

By America's Test Kitchen

Published on January 15, 2010

Time

25 minutes, plus 20 minutes resting and 20 minutes cooling

Yield

Serves 4 to 6 (Makes about 2 1/2 cups)

Garlic Croutons

Ingredients

1 large garlic clove, minced or pressed through garlic press (about 1 ¼ teaspoons)⅛ teaspoon table salt 1 ½ tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil 3 large slices high-quality sandwich bread slice, cut into ½-inch cubes (about 2 cups)

Instructions

  1. Adjust oven rack to middle position and heat oven to 350 degrees. Combine garlic, salt, and oil in small bowl; let stand 20 minutes, then pour through fine-mesh strainer into medium bowl. Add bread cubes to oil and toss to coat. Spread bread cubes in even layer on rimmed baking sheet and bake, stirring occasionally, until golden, about 15 minutes. Cool on baking sheet to room temperature. (Can be covered and stored at room temperature up to 24 hours.)
Garlic Croutons

Garlic Croutons

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By America's Test Kitchen
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Time

25 minutes, plus 20 minutes resting and 20 minutes cooling

Yield

Serves 4 to 6 (Makes about 2 1/2 cups)

Ingredients

1 large garlic clove, minced or pressed through garlic press (about 1 ¼ teaspoons)
⅛ teaspoon table salt
1 ½ tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
3 large slices high-quality sandwich bread slice, cut into ½-inch cubes (about 2 cups)

Ingredients

1 large garlic clove, minced or pressed through garlic press (about 1 ¼ teaspoons)
⅛ teaspoon table salt
1 ½ tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
3 large slices high-quality sandwich bread slice, cut into ½-inch cubes (about 2 cups)

Ingredients

1 large garlic clove, minced or pressed through garlic press (about 1 ¼ teaspoons)
⅛ teaspoon table salt
1 ½ tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
3 large slices high-quality sandwich bread slice, cut into ½-inch cubes (about 2 cups)

Why This Recipe Works

For croutons with a subtle garlic flavor, we start with a garlic-infused oil, which was made by steeping minced garlic in extra-virgin olive oil. After 20 minutes, we strained off the garlic, so it wouldn’t over-brown and become bitter as the bread cubes toasted in the oven.

Instructions

  1. Adjust oven rack to middle position and heat oven to 350 degrees. Combine garlic, salt, and oil in small bowl; let stand 20 minutes, then pour through fine-mesh strainer into medium bowl. Add bread cubes to oil and toss to coat. Spread bread cubes in even layer on rimmed baking sheet and bake, stirring occasionally, until golden, about 15 minutes. Cool on baking sheet to room temperature. (Can be covered and stored at room temperature up to 24 hours.)

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