Fresh Bread Crumbs Recipes

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.

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.

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.