According to the classic (and quite ancient recipe), croutons are a completely simple dish, prepared from “uneaten” supplies. It could be stale bread, a piece of dried cheese, salt, sour milk, sometimes tomatoes and a bit of smoked meat.
However, today the recipe for croutons has acquired a fairly specific form, although, as before, it involves the use of products from those lying around in the kitchen.
Classic recipe
Ingredients | Quantity |
Slices of loaf (can be replaced with white bread) - | 8 pcs. |
Vegetable oil - | 3 tbsp. |
Chicken eggs - | 2 pcs. |
Milk (fat content 3.5%) - | 1 glass (200-250 ml) |
Salt and sugar - | at your own discretion |
Cooking time: 10 minutes | Calorie content per 100 grams: 235 Kcal |
When mastering a particular dish, you always need to follow the classic (basic) recipe, and only after practicing it several times, start experimenting.
Prepare loaf croutons with egg and milk step by step. First of all, you need to put a frying pan on low heat, greased from the inside with oil, so that it has time to warm up while preparing the bread.
Next, you can use a sliced loaf or bread for toast, or you can cut the loaf yourself. In this case, the thickness of one slice is taken into account: thin ones will dry better and be crispy, while thick ones will retain a soft layer between the fried sides.
When the bread is sliced, you should choose a container in which it would be convenient to dip the bread pieces. Eggs are driven into this container, and then beaten with a mixer, whisk or fork until smooth.
After, without stopping stirring the egg mixture a little, pour milk into the container, and add salt or sweeten it to your taste.
The bread slice is thoroughly soaked in the prepared mixture, that is, it must be completely immersed in it. Excessively stale or thick pieces should be kept in the container for about 20 seconds. In other cases, 5 seconds will be enough.
The processed slices of bread are carefully laid out on an already heated frying pan. Of course, you won’t be able to put everything out at once, so it’s better to dip not all the pieces at once, but as needed.
The slices are fried for 2-3 minutes each, on both sides. A golden brown crust should appear on both sides.
To lay out the first ready-made croutons, you will need a plate lined with paper napkins. They absorb oil well and remove excess fat from the dish.
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Classic recipe in a frying pan
The recipe for this dish has come down to us almost unchanged since knightly times: unpretentious warriors tried to prepare food for themselves from the remains of bread and what could be found at the bottom of their bags. These croutons can be savory or sweet.
For the first and second options you will need:
- 8-10 slices of loaf 1 cm thick;
- 200 ml of full-fat cow's milk (from 3.5%);
- 2 chicken eggs;
- salt and/or sugar to taste;
- 45 ml vegetable oil for frying.
Cooking step by step:
- In a vessel with high walls, into which you can easily immerse a slice of loaf, turn the eggs into a homogeneous lump with a pinch of salt. Then pour in the milk and whisk again until smooth. For a sweet option you need to add sugar. A pinch of sugar doesn't cut it on unsweetened croutons either. This ingredient will not only act as a natural flavor enhancer, but will also contribute to the formation of a beautiful golden crust.
- Pour the oil into the frying pan and put it on the fire until it heats up well, almost to a boil.
- Bath slices of bread on all sides in the egg-milk mixture. It will be enough to spend 5 seconds on each piece for this procedure.
- After this, fry the prepared loaf slices in hot oil. Transfer the finished croutons from the pan onto a paper towel to remove excess fat.
Ingredients
- bread slices – 5-6 pcs.;
- milk – ½ cup;
- chicken eggs – 2 pcs.;
- vegetable oil (for frying) – 10-20 ml.
How to make delicious fried loaf croutons with egg and milk
Break the eggs into a deep bowl or plate, add milk.
Using a fork or kitchen whisk, whisk the milk and eggs until smooth. For sweet croutons at this stage you can add sugar (powdered sugar is best), and for salty croutons you can add spices (salt, curry, paprika, ground black pepper).
If your loaf is not sliced, then cut it into slices no more than 1 cm thick.
Pour vegetable oil into the pan until it covers the bottom. Dip each piece of loaf on both sides into the milk-egg mixture.
Place the slices in a frying pan and fry over medium heat until golden brown. Then turn the croutons over and fry the other side. Make sure that the oil in the pan always covers the bottom, otherwise the loaf pieces may burn.
Place the finished croutons on a flat plate and serve hot. Brew aromatic tea, pour berry jam into a vase and enjoy.
Long loaf croutons with egg, milk and cheese
Long loaf croutons with egg, milk and cheese will turn out even more satisfying. A great, tasty and nutritious start to the day. This version of croutons is suitable for taking with you to work, school, or on the road as a snack.
- loaf slices - 5-6 pcs.;
- milk - 1/2 cup;
- chicken eggs - 2 pcs.;
- salt - ¼ tsp;
- hard cheese - 140-160 g;
- egg yolk - 1 pc.;
- vegetable oil (for frying) - 20-30 ml.
- In a deep bowl, using a whisk or fork, thoroughly mix the eggs with milk and salt.
- Grate the cheese on a fine or medium grater and mix with egg yolk.
- Heat vegetable oil in a frying pan, dip each slice of loaf in a mixture of milk and eggs, place in a frying pan, and fry until golden brown.
- Then turn the croutons over, spread the cheese mixture on the surface of each in an even layer, cover the frying pan with a lid (so that the cheese melts) and fry for another 4-5 minutes.
- When serving, you can sprinkle these croutons with finely chopped fresh herbs.
Long loaf croutons with egg and milk in the oven
If your family loves to watch football matches on TV, and friends often drop by to watch them with beer, nuts and chips, then this recipe will suit you just right. Give up these unhealthy store-bought beer snacks; it’s better to cook aromatic and spicy loaf croutons with egg and milk in the oven.
- slices of loaf or bread - 10-12 pcs.;
- milk - 1 glass;
- chicken eggs - 4 pcs.;
- garlic cloves - 4-5 pcs.;
- salt - ½ tsp;
- seasonings and spices - to your taste;
- hard cheese - 180 g;
- vegetable oil - 1-2 tsp.
- You can leave the bread slices as they are cut. But you can make them more original by cutting off the edges of the crust and shaping them into a rectangle, diamond or square.
- In a bowl, mix chicken eggs with milk and your favorite spices (dried dill, parsley, thyme, basil, oregano; ground black and red pepper; Italian and Provençal herbs; cardamom; curry).
- Peel the garlic cloves and pass them through a press, add to the milk-egg mixture. Mix everything well to obtain a homogeneous mixture.
- Place parchment paper on a baking sheet and grease it with vegetable oil. Dip each bread slice on all sides into the prepared mixture and place on a baking sheet.
- Grate the cheese. Sprinkle it over the future croutons laid out on a baking sheet and place in the oven, preheated to 160 degrees, for 10 minutes.
- Place the finished croutons on a flat dish, take the beer out of the refrigerator and have a pleasant football evening!
Sweet loaf croutons with egg and milk
And this recipe is suitable for housewives who have incredible sweet tooths in their homes - both young and old. Sweet croutons with milk and egg will appeal to both children and old people, because they turn out very tasty and tender. A wonderful option for dessert or afternoon tea, and also an excellent reason to invite a friend or neighbor over and chat over tea in the evening.
- loaf slices - 8-9 pcs.;
- milk - 250-300 ml;
- chicken eggs - 3 pcs.;
- vanilla sugar - ½ tsp;
- ground cinnamon - a pinch;
- salt - a pinch;
- granulated sugar - 2 tsp;
- butter - 20 g;
- vegetable oil - 2-3 tbsp. l.;
- dried apricots, raisins and prunes - for decoration.
- Beat the eggs into a bowl, pour in the milk and add salt, sugar (regular and vanilla), and cinnamon. Mix everything well with a fork or whisk.
- Place the dried fruits in a separate bowl, pour in warm water, and let them sit for a while until they steam and become soft, then cut them into small pieces.
- Dip the loaf slices in the milk-egg mixture, you can hold them in the liquid longer (30 seconds on each side), then they will turn out especially airy.
- Heat vegetable oil in a frying pan. Place the butter in it and melt it, now lay out the bread slices and fry until golden brown.
- Turn the croutons over to the other side and fry until done. Transfer them from the frying pan to a wide flat dish and sprinkle with chopped dried fruits.
- These croutons go perfectly with cool milk, but they will also go away with tea and coffee in a matter of minutes.
Cooking tips
- To get delicious croutons, it is important to remember that the bread or loaf may not be the freshest (a little stale), but eggs and milk must be taken fresh. Don't get confused!
- It is best to fry croutons in a non-stick pan.
- When frying, try not to pour a lot of vegetable oil into the pan; the croutons will absorb it and turn out too greasy.
- The croutons will turn out even more tasty and crispy if you fry them not in vegetable oil, but in melted butter. But remember that they will also be higher in calories.
- It is better to first transfer the finished croutons from the frying pan onto paper napkins or towels so that excess fat drips off, and then onto a dish.
Now you know how to fry toast with egg and milk and satisfy the tastes of all family members. Make them more often - rosy and sweet for the kids, spicy and satisfying for your husband and his friends, tender and appetizing for your elderly parents.
Use our tips!
- It is best to use stale bread. Because fresh bread after cooking may seem soggy or undercooked inside.
- It is important to warm up the oil properly. And this needs to be done before frying, so that the mixture of egg and milk in which we dip the bread does not spread over the frying pan.
- Don't forget to keep an eye on the oil in the pan. If there is too much of it, the croutons will turn out greasy, and if there is not enough oil, they can burn.
- Butter will make the croutons more delicate in taste. However, to prepare it you will need more than vegetable, and this will significantly increase the calorie content of the dish.
- You can use the oven. For example, when using additional ingredients, which at the time of preparation must be placed on top of a piece of crouton. Then the “cap” will not fall apart, and the bread will be well fried.
The classic recipe, inherited from brave knights, is completely unpretentious. Having practically not a penny to their name, these people were often content with what God sent or what they could ask for in the nearest taverns. They used: old bread, a pinch of salt, slightly sour milk, a stale piece of cheese, tomato trimmings, a slice of smoked meat, if the innkeeper came across too generous. A piece of bread was dipped in milk, well salted, in good times smeared with butter, then fried on both sides on a hot stone, and the finished crouton was decorated on top with everything that remained at the bottom of the bag.
Sweet croutons from a loaf in the oven
Dishes in the oven always turn out to be lower in calories, and croutons are no exception. With minimal use of fat, you can get the same crispy crust as in a frying pan.
To prepare sweet croutons in the oven you need to take:
- 6 thin pieces of loaf;
- 100 ml milk;
- 2 chicken eggs;
- 30-50 g sugar;
- 20 g butter for greasing the baking dish.
Cooking method:
- Beat the milk, eggs and sugar together with a hand whisk, or whisk with a regular table fork. The ingredients should be completely combined, and the sugar should dissolve to the last grain.
- Preheat the oven to 180-200 degrees Celsius. Grease a baking dish with a small amount of oil.
- Dip pieces of bread (preferably stale) into the leison, transfer to the prepared pan and bake for 20-25 minutes.
In French: with cinnamon and vanilla
Toast with vanilla and cinnamon is a dish that in French cafes is not inferior in popularity to the more famous croissants. To treat yourself to this delicacy for breakfast, you don’t need to go to Paris; you only need 10-15 minutes of free time and the following set of ingredients:
- 1 loaf of white bread or bun;
- 2 selected chicken eggs;
- 60 ml cream;
- 60 g butter;
- cinnamon, vanilla and powdered sugar to taste.
Progress:
- Prepare the mixture for dipping the bread pieces. Combine eggs, cream, half the melted butter, powdered sugar, vanilla and cinnamon. Mix all ingredients thoroughly.
- Grease a ceramic frying pan with the remaining butter and heat it thoroughly.
- Cut the loaf (or roll) into thin slices, if not sliced. Immerse each piece in the prepared mixture and fry in a frying pan. A crispy caramel crust will indicate readiness.
- Before serving, sprinkle hot croutons with powdered sugar or cinnamon to taste.
Experiments with taste
As we have already found out, the process of preparing a fried loaf with egg and milk does not require any special skills, and the recipe does not contain any complex components. However, if you intend to surprise your guests (or your stomach), then add a few unusual ingredients to the classic instructions.
- Hard cheese will make the dish richer and add a little more crunch to the crust. Don't forget to grate or finely chop it first. In addition, you can sprinkle cheese on an already fried loaf, first rubbing it with garlic or onion.
- Flour will satisfy your hunger with less bread. The main thing is to ensure that the mixture of eggs, milk and flour does not turn out to be too thick.
- A sandwich made from croutons can be unusual and very satisfying. To do this, after the croutons, you can fry the sausage in the same oil.
- For those with a sweet tooth, we recommend a recipe for sweet croutons with milk and egg. Ready-made croutons can be dipped in jam, preserves or condensed milk (it doesn’t matter whether it’s boiled or not), sprinkled with caramel or any other syrup that you have on hand, or smeared with honey or chocolate spread on the bread.
- Spices will allow you to play with taste. Ground cinnamon and vanillin will give the croutons an elusive aroma of a dessert dish, and powdered sugar will emphasize the sweetness of the upcoming tea party.
- An elegant decoration for your table. These are croutons spread with cream cheese (or whipped cream) and topped with fresh strawberries (or other fruits of your choice).
- Croutons can be a great snack for beer or soup! To do this, you just need a little more salt, a little less milk and eggs, and, most importantly, don’t forget to cut the bread into cubes before cooking.
Even the most sophisticated gourmet can discover salty or sweet croutons from a loaf with egg and milk. Don’t be afraid to come up with something unusual; your stomach will definitely thank you for interesting combinations of foods and new taste sensations.
The simplicity of this recipe and the variety of possible cooking options allow croutons to remain a dish loved by both adults and the smallest knights. By the way, thanks to a simple culinary process, even a child can learn how to make croutons with egg and milk, and subsequently pamper you with these delicacies.
Toasts with egg, milk and strawberries
This dish is not only incredibly tasty, but also has the unusual appearance of small rolls with a sweet strawberry filling.
To prepare them you need to prepare:
- 8 thin slices of loaf or toast bread;
- 100 g of sweet curd mass;
- 100 g ripe strawberries;
- 100 g sugar;
- 5 g cinnamon;
- 2-3 eggs;
- 50 ml milk;
- vegetable oil for frying.
Cooking process step by step:
- Remove the crust from each piece of bread in a thin layer, then run over it a little with a rolling pin. On one side of the slice, place a strip of curd mass, sliced strawberries on it, and roll it up.
- Mix milk and eggs together for batter. Combine sugar and cinnamon in a separate bowl for dusting.
- Fry the rolls in a frying pan in hot oil, after bathing them in batter. After removing them from the heat, immediately roll them in a mixture of sugar and cinnamon. You can serve.
With the addition of apples
Toasts with apple filling are a wonderful healthy and nutritious breakfast that can be prepared very quickly, especially if the fruit filling is prepared the day before.
To prepare croutons with aromatic apple filling you need to take:
- 4 thick slices of loaf (2.5-3 cm thick);
- 125 ml milk;
- 1 egg;
- 20 g vanilla sugar;
- 200 g apples;
- 50 g butter;
- 50 g brown or regular sugar;
- 3-4 g cinnamon;
- vegetable oil and powdered sugar.
How to make croutons:
- First you need to do the filling. Wash the apples, peel them in a thin layer, cut into cubes, mix with sugar, cinnamon and simmer in butter for 3-5 minutes, stirring constantly.
- Prepare a binder mixture for the batter from milk, eggs and vanilla sugar.
- Make a longitudinal cut in each piece of loaf without cutting it completely. Fill the resulting pocket with apple filling, then dip it in batter on all sides and fry until golden crisp.
- Before serving, sprinkle the croutons with powdered sugar on top.
There are no irreplaceable ingredients
Long loaf croutons with egg and milk are a tremendous success not only because of the simplicity of the recipe and the almost instantaneous speed of preparation, but also because of the unique ability to replace any ingredient without losing the main taste! So, if there are not enough eggs and milk in your refrigerator, and bread and butter on the shelves, then use the following tips.
- Eggs can be replaced with... Bananas! If you are planning to make a sweet dish, then this fruit is ideal for creating a thick mass in which you need to dip the bread. And if you are planning a serious unsweetened breakfast, then dilute the milk with flour (smaller handful) or grated cheese (larger handful).
- Milk has a significant impact on the taste of croutons. In this regard, it is useful to know how to cook toast with eggs without milk. For example, kefir is suitable for a more tart taste or cream for a soft, refined aroma, and sour cream will give the “batter” a special fluffiness. In addition, the absence of this product in the dish can be compensated for by an extra egg.
- Both vegetable and butter oils are suitable for frying. Even if you have margarine, regular fat, or there is juice left in the frying pan from yesterday's delicious steak, you are a kitchen wizard! And with a certain level of dexterity (and if you have good utensils), you can fry bread with eggs and milk without butter.
- As strange as it may seem, even bread can be replaced! For example, by first preparing simple crumpets from flour and water, which you will later dip into the mixture. But, of course, it is better to look on the shelves for a dried (but not moldy!) brick of bread, loaf, pita bread, bun or bagel.
Remember that only the lack of all the ingredients can stop you from preparing a regular loaf in egg and milk. But your imagination will suggest a recipe for a new unique dish!
Sweet croutons with bananas
Slices of yesterday's loaf in banana batter are a delicacy that neither adults nor children can resist. This is also a delicious way to recycle not only a stale loaf, but also an overripe banana.
- loaf slices;
- 200 ml milk;
- 2 tablespoons eggs;
- 30 ml condensed milk;
- 10 g sugar;
- 1-2 g vanilla powder;
- 200 g ripe banana;
- oil for frying.