Best Croutes Recipes

WHITE BEAN PURéE WITH GARLIC VINAIGRETTE AND CROUTES

Steps:

• Make dressing:
• Blanch garlic in a small saucepan of boiling water 3 minutes, then drain and finely chop. Transfer garlic to a bowl and whisk in mustard and vinegar. Add 3 tablespoons oil in a stream, whisking until emulsified. Season with salt and pepper.
• Make bean purée:
• Soak beans in water to cover by 2 inches in a large bowl at least 8 hours, then drain. Simmer beans with thyme in fresh water to cover by 2 inches in a 3- to 4-quart saucepan, partially covered, until very tender, about 1 1/4 hours (some beans will fall apart). Reserve 1 cup cooking liquid and drain beans, discarding thyme.
• Crumble bread into a large bowl and stir in cream. Force beans through food mill into moistened bread, then stir in oil. Add reserved cooking liquid 1 tablespoon at a time for a spreadable consistency. Season generously with salt and pepper.
• Serve warm with vinaigrette spooned over purée.

FRENCH BISTRO STEAK ON GARLIC CROUTES AND POTATO FRITES

Steps:

• Potato Frites:.
• Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
• In bowl, toss potatoes with oil, thyme, salt and pepper.
• Arrange on foil-lined rimmed baking sheet.
• Bake, turning once, for 40 minutes or until tender inside and crisp outside.
• While potatoes cook, start the Bistro Steak.
• Bistro Steak On Garlic Croutes:.
• Rub bread all over with cut side of garlic; brush with 2 teaspoons (10 mL) of the oil. Toast on baking sheet for 10 minutes or until golden.
• Meanwhile, trim off all but 1/8 inch (3 mm) fat from steak, if needed.
• Roll edges in peppercorns to coat.
• In skillet, heat remaining oil over medium-high heat; cook steaks for 4 to 6 minutes per side or until medium-rare inside and browned. Transfer to plate; cover and keep warm.
• Add wine and stock to skillet; bring to boil, scraping up any brown bits. Boil for about 1 minute or until reduced by half. Remove from heat.
• Stir in red pepper, shallot, butter and any juices accumulated on plate.
• Cut steaks in half; place on croûtes.
• Pour sauce over top.
• Serve with Potato Frites.

CROUTES AUX CHAMPIGNONS (MUSHROOMS ON TOAST)

Steps:

• Preheat broiler.
• Melt the butter in a large skillet. Add the onion, and cook until softened, but not brown. Add the mushrooms, season with salt and pepper to taste. Cover and cook over medium heat until the juices start to run. Uncover, and cook until the liquid evaporates.
• Add the wine, reduce by half. Add the cream, stir, and let simmer a few minutes, until thickened.
• Toast the bread, and place on a baking sheet. Top with the mushroom mixture and grated cheese.
• Place the toasts under the broiler, just until the top starts to brown. Serve immediately.

WINTER MINESTRONE WITH PESTO CROûTES

Steps:

• Heat the olive oil in a large pan, add the onion and lardons or bacon and fry for about 5 mins until the onion is starting to brown. Tip in the carrots, celery, potato and garlic, stir well and cook for a few minutes.
• Add the tomatoes, stock and sage, and bring to the boil, stirring. Reduce heat to simmer and cook partly covered for 30 mins, stirring in the cabbage after 15 mins. Drain and rinse the beans and add to the pan with the parsley. Season and serve with pesto croûtes, see right, or crusty bread.
• For the pesto croûtes: Cut 3-4 slices of crusty bread into chunks, about 2cm thick. Tip into an ovenproof pan. Mix the olive oil and pesto, then add to the bread, tossing it with your hands until the croûtes are evenly coated. Bake in a moderate oven for about 10 mins until crisp.

GRILLED RIB-EYE STEAKS ON SAUTEED ONIONS AND GARLIC CROUTES WITH CURRY OIL

Steps:

• In a large heavy skillet heat 1 tablespoon oil over moderate heat until hot but not smoking and cook onions with salt and pepper to taste, stirring, 15 minutes, or until golden brown. Keep onions warm, covered.
• Pat steaks dry and season with salt and pepper. Heat an oiled well-seasoned ridged grill pan over moderately high heat until hot but not smoking and grill steaks 3 to 4 minutes on each side for medium-rare.
• While steaks are grilling, in a small saucepan stir together curry powder and remaining tablespoon oil and heat over moderate heat until hot but not smoking. Remove pan from heat and season curry oil with salt. Transfer steaks to a plate and let stand 5 minutes.
• Toast bread in a toaster until golden brown and rub 1 side of hot toasts with cut sides of garlic. Put croûtes on 2 plates and top each with half of onions and 1 steak. Spoon curry oil (being careful not to include powder that has settled to bottom) over and around steaks.

CREAM OF LENTIL SOUP WITH CHORIZO CROUTES

Steps:

• Soak the lentils in cold water for 2 hours. Drain the lentils, and put them in a pot with the carrot, onion, bay leaf, thyme sprig, and stock. Cover the pot and simmer until very tender, about 45 minutes.
• Discard the herbs, and let the lentils cool somewhat, then puree in a blender along with the vegetables, working in 2 batches to avoid an explosive mess.
• Cook's Note: Remember that if you put something too hot into a blender you may crack it.
• For a very smooth soup, strain it, although it's not necessary. Add salt and pepper, to taste, along with a squeeze of lemon if you like. Gently reheat the soup.
• Heat the olive oil in a small frying pan, and saute the chorizo slices until they curl, about 30 seconds. Turn and fry another 15 seconds. Serve the soup with the chorizo rounds on top and with some of the now bright-orange cooking oil spooned around.

ONION MUSHROOM SOUP WITH CHEESE CROUTES

Steps:

• In large pot, melt butter; cook onions, garlic, sugar, thyme and bay leaf, stirring occasionally, until onions are very soft and starting to brown, about 20 minutes. Add mushrooms, salt and pepper; cook, stirring, until well browned, about 10 minutes. Add sherry; cook, scraping up browned bits, until no liquid remains. Add broth and 1/2 cup water; bring to boil. Reduce heat, cover and simmer for 10 minutes. Discard bay leaf. Meanwhile, sprinkle cheese over bread slices; broil on baking sheet until golden, about 3 minutes. Ladle soup into bowls; top with croutes. From Mom

GARLIC CROUTES

Steps:

• Halve garlic. Cut six 1/3-inch-thick slices from middle of loaf and brush bread with oil. Lightly oil a well-seasoned ridged grill pan and heat over moderately high heat until hot but not smoking. Grill bread until golden brown on both sides. Immediately rub bread on 1 side with cut side of garlic and sprinkle with salt.

ROASTED GARLIC-PEA PURéE ON SOURDOUGH CROUTES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400°F.
• Diagonally cut twenty-four 1/4-inch-thick slices from baguette with a serrated knife and arrange in one layer on a large baking sheet. Lightly brush tops of slices with about 1 tablespoon oil total and season with salt and pepper. Bake slices in middle of oven 5 minutes, or until golden, and transfer to a rack to cool.
• Separate garlic heads into cloves, discarding loose papery outer skin but keeping skin on cloves intact, and wrap together in foil, crimping seams to seal tightly. Roast garlic in middle of oven 30 minutes, or until soft. Unwrap garlic and cool slightly. Peel skin from each clove. Finely grate enough Parmigiano-Reggiano to measure 1/4 cup and chill remainder, wrapped in plastic wrap.
• In a saucepan cook peas in water, stirring, until just tender and heated through. In a food processor puree warm peas, garlic, grated cheese, lemon juice, 1 tablespoon oil, and salt and pepper to taste until smooth. Transfer puree to a bowl and cool completely. Puree may be made 1 day ahead and chilled, covered. Bring puree to room temperature before using and season with salt and pepper.
• With a vegetable peeler shave 24 thin slices from chilled Parmigiano-Reggiano. Spread about 1 heaping tablespoon puree on each toast and top with an arugula leaf and a Parmigiano-Reggiano shaving.
• Serve toasts drizzled with remaining oil.

GARLIC BREAD CROûTES

Steps:

• Preheat the broiler.
• Slice the bread into 16 fat slices. Lay the slices out on a baking sheet.
• Combine the butter and garlic. Spread each slice of bread with the garlic butter and sprinkle with Parmesan.
• Place the baking sheet under the broiler until the slices are lightly browned, 3 to 5 minutes.

SALADE VERTE AVEC CROUTES DE ROQUEFORT

Steps:

• Make the toasts:
• Bake the bread slices on a baking sheet in one layer in the middle of a preheated 350°F. oven for 10 to 15 minutes, or until they are golden. The toasts may be baked 1 day in advance and kept in an airtight container. They may also be baked at the same time as the croutons for the pea soup. In a bowl cream the Roquefort with the butter and spread the mixture on the toasts.
• Make the salad:
• In a large bowl whisk the vinegar with the mustard and salt and pepper to taste, add the oil in a stream, whisking, and whisk the dressing until it is emulsified. Add the frisée and the arugula and toss the mixture well to coat the greens with the dressing. Season the salad with pepper, divide it among 6 salad plates, and arrange 2 toasts on each plate.

PROSCIUTTO AND TOMATO SALAD WITH SMOKED MOZZARELLA CROUTES

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Place tomatoes in a small saucepan and cover with water. Bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer until softened, about 5 minutes. Drain. In a large bowl, toss together tomatoes, salad greens and prosciutto.
• In a small bowl, whisk together the vinegar, oil, salt and pepper. Place the bread on a baking sheet and top each piece with a slice of mozzarella. Bake until the cheese is melted, about 5 minutes.
• Toss the salad with the dressing and divide between 2 or 4 plates. Divide the croutes between the plates and serve immediately.

CHEESE CROUTES

Steps:

• On rimmed baking sheet, lightly toast bread in 500F oven, turning halfway through cooking time, about 6 minutes.
• Remove from oven; sprinkle with 3 tablespoons of the wine.
• In large bowl, beat egg, egg yolk, garlic, flour and cayenne until smooth. Whisk in remaining wine; mix in cheese.
• Top bread with cheese mixture; sprinkle with freshly ground pepper.
• Return to oven; bake until golden, about 10 minutes.

CROUTES

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350 degrees. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper; set aside. Using a round cookie or oval cutter, cut bread into eight shapes, each just larger than a poached egg. Brush both sides with butter or oil. Bake, turning once, until light golden brown and crisp, about 15 minutes.

DUCK LIVER PARFAIT, CHERRY COMPOTE & SOURDOUGH CROUTES

Steps:

• Heat a piece of the butter in a frying pan. Once melted and sizzling, add the shallots, thyme, peppercorns and coriander seeds with a pinch of salt. Cook, stirring, for 3-4 mins, until the shallots begin to colour, then turn up the heat slightly, add the livers and cinnamon and cook for 3-4 mins. Splash in the madeira and bubble until reduced by about half. Transfer to a bowl to cool and grate over some fresh nutmeg.
• Once cool, transfer the mix to a blender, add the butter and Grand Marnier and blitz. Check for seasoning, then pass through a fine sieve. Pour into ramekins or small bowls, leaving a gap for the cherry topping, and place in the fridge to set.
• To make the cherry glaze, very gently melt down 80g of the cherry compote with the vinegar and a pinch of salt. Allow to cool slightly, then top the parfait with the cherry mix. Return to the fridge to set for a couple more hours. Can be made up to two days in advance.
• To make the sourdough croutes, heat oven to 180C/160C fan/gas 4. Toss your sourdough with a really generous pinch of salt, a good drizzle of olive oil and the thyme leaves. Roast in the oven for 15-20 mins until crisp and golden. The croutes can be made a day ahead and kept in an airtight container. Let guests spread the parfait over of the croutes and enjoy.

CROUTES AU FROMAGE

Steps:

• Into a bowl sift together the flour, the salt, and the cayenne, blend in the 6 tablespoons butter and the Cheddar, and stir in the cream, stirring until the mixture forms a dough. Chill the dough, wrapped in wax paper, for 2 hours.
• Roll out the dough 1/16 inch thick on a lightly floured surface and using a 1 1/2-inch round cutter cut out rounds, rerolling the scraps and cutting out additional rounds. Arrange the rounds on baking sheets, brush them lightly with the egg, and bake them in batches in the middle of a preheated 450°F. oven for 5 to 7 minutes, or until they are browned lightly. The pastry rounds may be made 2 days in advance and kept in an airtight container.
• In a small bowl cream together well the Swiss cheese and the remaining 3 tablespoons butter. Arrange half the pastry rounds, bottom sides up, on baking sheets, divide the cheese mixture among them, and sandwich the mixture with the remaining pastry rounds, pressing the rounds together lightly. Bake the croÛtes in a preheated 450°F. oven for 4 minutes, or until the cheese is just melted.