Fresh Bread Crumbs Recipes

FRESH BREAD CRUMBS

Steps:

• Working in two batches, pulse bread cubes in a food processor to fine crumbs; transfer to a medium bowl.
• To make plain breadcrumbs, stir in 1 1/2 tablespoons coarse salt and season with pepper. To make lemon-sage breadcrumbs, stir in 1 1/2 tablespoons coarse salt, lemon zest, and sage; season with pepper. To make parmesan-oregano breadcrumbs, stir in 1 tablespoon salt, oregano, and parmesan cheese; season with pepper. To make garlic-parsley breadcrumbs, stir in 1 1/2 tablespoons salt, parsley, and garlic; season with pepper.

BREAD CRUMBS

Steps:

• There is a real advantage to making bread crumbs instead of using pre-packaged ones, with their unpleasant preserved taste. Full tasting bread, like a sourdough or herbed bread makes for delicious crumbs. When made from fresh bread the crumbs absorb less fat or liquid than a dry crumb, making them ideal for topping off gratins, or breading meat and fish when frying. Dry crumbs are better suited for stuffings since they absorb moisture just like a sponge. Most breads can be turned into bread crumbs by simply grinding them in a food processor. Trimming crusts makes for a more delicate crumb and for very fine crumbs, strain them through a fine-mesh sieve. Store bread crumbs in a tightly sealed plastic bag in the freezer.

SEASONED BREAD CRUMBS

Steps:

• Place all ingredients in a blender or food processor; cover and process until fine crumbs form. Transfer to a 15x10x1-in. baking pan. Bake, uncovered, at 350° for 8-12 minutes or until lightly browned, stirring occasionally. Cool. Store in an airtight container.

HOMEMADE BREAD CRUMBS

Steps:

• Use a food processor or blender to crumb the bread evenly.
• Crumbs should not be like sand.
• Leave some texture-don't overprocess.
• Melt butter in a large pan and add crumbs and salt and pepper.
• Stir until evenly coated.
• Continue stirring over medium heat until the crumbs sound like sand when they hit the bottom of the pan.
• Cool thoroughly.
• Then store in heavy duty plastic bags with zipper seals.
• Don't put them in the refrigerator-they won't keep.
• Store them in a cabinet for up to six months.

HOMEMADE BREADCRUMBS

Steps:

• To make fresh breadcrumbs, tear the bread into pieces and drop into a food processor fitted with a blade attachment. Pulse until you have breadcrumbs of the size you want. If you want to make very even breadcrumbs, push them through a coarse sieve. Will keep in an airtight container at room temperature for up to a week.
• To make dried breadcrumbs, tear the bread into pieces and bake in a low oven until the pieces are completely dried out. Pulse in a food processor as before. Will keep chilled for up to two months, or frozen for six months.

MISSISSIPPI SLUGBURGER

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 175 degrees F (80 degrees C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
• Cut the crusts off the bread slices. Place slices on the prepared baking sheet.
• Bake in the center of the preheated oven until dry and toasted, about 45 minutes.
• Transfer toasted bread to the bowl of a food processor and pulse until you reach coarse crumbs.
• Place ground chuck, salt, pepper, garlic powder, and onion powder into a bowl. Add bread crumbs. Combine with your fingers, breaking apart the meat.
• Dampen your fingers with water and form mixture into hamburger patties.
• Heat ¼ to ½ inch vegetable oil in a skillet over medium-high heat. Place a patty into the pan and turn heat down to medium. Cook until well browned and crusty, 3 to 4 minutes per side. Repeat with remaining patties, adding more oil if needed.
• Remove from the pan and serve on hamburger buns with mustard and pickles; sprinkle tops of patties with chili powder and/or cayenne if you like prior to serving.

TOASTED BREADCRUMBS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 250 degrees F (120 degrees C).
• Using tongs, place bread slices directly on oven racks. Leave in oven until hard and golden brown, about 30 minutes; darker if you prefer. Remove and cool on wire rack.
• Crumble slices into a large bowl until reduced to fine crumbs, or place in bowl of food processor and process until fine.