Air Fryer Croutons: Quick and Crispy Homemade Recipe
Crispy and golden croutons, perfect for soups, salads, or snacks, cooked quickly in the air fryer.
Steps
- 1
Cut the bread into 1/2-inch (1-2 cm) cubes.
- 2
In a bowl, toss the bread cubes with olive oil, garlic powder, oregano, salt, and pepper until evenly coated.
- 3
Preheat the air fryer to 350°F (180°C).
- 4
Place the bread cubes in the air fryer basket and cook for 6-8 minutes, shaking the basket halfway through for even browning.
- 5
Let the croutons cool for a few minutes; they will become crispier as they cool.
Shopping list
4 slices stale bread, 2 tbsp olive oil, 1 tsp garlic powder, 1/2 tsp dried oregano, salt and pepper to taste
Recipe story
In the royal kitchens of 17th-century France, stale bread was transformed into golden croutons to accompany the sumptuous soups of the nobility. This tradition spread throughout Europe, with each region adding its own spices. In Italy, for example, croutons are often flavored with garlic and Mediterranean herbs, served alongside minestrone. In England, they were fried in butter and served with pea soup. Today, the air fryer offers a quick and healthy way to achieve the same crispy texture.
Ingredient Secrets
Black pepper
Known as 'black gold' in antiquity, pepper was so valuable that it served as currency and tribute. In the Middle Ages, Venetian merchants controlled the pepper trade, and individual peppercorns were often counted. Legend has it that when Alaric, king of the Visigoths, demanded tribute from Rome, he included 3,000 pounds of pepper.
Sea salt
Sea salt, extracted from ocean waters by evaporation, was one of the most precious goods of antiquity, used both as food and as currency. In ancient Rome, soldiers were paid with salt, which is the origin of the word 'salary'. Salt roads connected entire civilizations, and in the Middle Ages, salt was so valuable it was called 'white gold'.
Oregano
Oregano, also known as 'mountain joy', was used by ancient Greeks as an antidote for poisons and a symbol of happiness. In the Middle Ages, it was planted on graves to ensure peace for the souls.
Garlic
Native to Central Asia, garlic was already known in ancient Egypt, where it was given to slaves to boost their strength. In ancient Greece, athletes consumed it before competitions, and in Rome, legionaries considered it essential for courage. During the Middle Ages, it was used to ward off vampires and the plague.
Olive oil
Originating in the Mediterranean basin, olive oil was already produced in ancient Crete 5,000 years ago. In ancient Greece, it was considered a gift from Athena and used in lamps, cosmetics, and religious ceremonies. The Romans spread it throughout the empire, and in the Middle Ages, monasteries preserved the tradition of its production.
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