BONNIE'S OLIVE OIL FRIED CROUTONS

BONNIE'S OLIVE OIL FRIED CROUTONS image

Provided by BonniE !

Time 15m

Number Of Ingredients 6

1/3 cup extra virgin olive oil
1 teaspoon paprika
1 teaspoon thyme
1 teaspoon garlic powder
kosher salt and coarse black pepper to taste
2 cups good rustic bread. i used a parmesan garlic bread.

Steps:

1. ABOUT THE BREAD I used a loaf of garlic and parmesan flavored bread that I had just baked. Any rustic, good quality bread will do. Remove the crusts (because it gets too brown) and cut the two cups of bread into 1/2 inch cubes. No set rule here. They can be bigger if you want. You can even tear the bread instead of cutting it.
2. ABOUT FRYING THE CROUTONS Be careful not to over-fry your croutons. You are going for crispy on the outside with a tender bite, not crunchy and crusty.
3. THIS IS A FAST SIZZLE! Measure 1/3 cup extra virgin olive oil. Heat the oil in a cast iron or heavy skillet over medium high heat. Put in one cube and see if it sizzles, then if it does, add the rest of the cubes. Watch them carefully, because they toast fast. Turn the cubes to brown the sides. When they are all brown, turn the heat off and immediately salt and pepper the cubes, add the thyme, garlic powder and paprika and keep tossing them gently for about 30 seconds,
4. Then remove the cubes to a paper towel to drain.
5. They are wonderful on a tossed green salad like this one. They are hands-down so much faster to prepare and better tasting than the oven variety. Bon Appetit!
6. Enjoy! We love these Croutons!