Making Croutons For Fondue: A Tasty, Crispy Guide

Fondue is a dish that originated in the Alpine regions of France and Switzerland in the 1800s as a way to use aged cheese and stale bread during the winter months. It has since become a beloved dish worldwide, often served as a celebratory meal or a romantic date night activity. While there are many types of fondue, the classic Swiss cheese fondue is made using a combination of nutty and buttery Alpine cheeses such as Gruyère, Emmenthaler, Comte, Appenzeller, or Raclette. To add a boost of flavour, a splash of kirsch, brandy, or cognac is often added to cut through the richness of the cheese.

Fondue is typically served with a variety of dippers, including raw or cooked vegetables, crusty bread cubes, soft pretzel bites, and caraway croutons. Croutons are incredibly easy to make at home and only require a few simple ingredients: bread, oil or butter, and seasonings. You can use any type of bread, from Italian or French bread to sourdough or hamburger buns, and season them with a variety of herbs and spices like garlic, rosemary, parsley, or even ranch powder. The bread is cut into cubes, coated in oil or butter, seasoned, and then baked in the oven until crispy.

Choosing the right bread

It is recommended to use bread that is a day or two old. Older, staler bread tends to be more dehydrated, which means it will toast and bake faster than fresh bread. This is ideal if you want to save time in the kitchen. However, if you only have fresh bread available, that will work too; it will just take a little longer to bake.

The type of bread you choose is also important. Go for a crusty bread with an open crumb structure, such as a sourdough boule or French-style baguette. This creates perfect pockets for the seasoning to fall into, and the irregular shapes add a whimsical touch. Italian bread is also a popular choice, but you can also use brown bread, white bread, wheat bread, Texas toast, buns, or rolls. Essentially, any bread that can be cut into sizable cubes will work.

If you want to get creative, you can even use gluten-free bread or hamburger buns for a unique twist on your croutons. Just remember to slice the bread into evenly sized cubes to ensure uniform cooking.

In conclusion, when choosing the right bread for your croutons, consider the freshness, type, and size of the bread. Older, crusty breads with an open crumb structure work best, but feel free to experiment with different options to find your favourite.

Oil vs butter

When making croutons for fondue, you can use either oil or butter. Both are great options, and the choice between the two will depend on your personal preference and dietary requirements. Here is a detailed comparison between the two:

Oil

Oil is a great option for making croutons as it helps to create a crispy texture. You can use a variety of oils, such as olive oil, vegetable oil, sunflower oil, or even coconut oil. Using oil allows you to control the amount of fat in your croutons. You can also use a spray bottle to evenly coat the bread pieces with oil, which helps reduce the amount of oil used. Oil is also a good option if you are making a large batch of croutons, as it is easier to coat a large quantity of bread evenly.

Butter

Butter, on the other hand, gives your croutons a delicious, golden, buttery crust. It is a good option if you want a richer, more indulgent flavour. You can use melted butter and drizzle it over the bread cubes, similar to how you would use oil. Butter can also be a good option if you are short on time, as it tends to cook faster than oil.

Tips for Using Oil or Butter

• When using oil, it is important to use a flavourless or tasteless oil so that it does not overpower the other ingredients.
• If you are using butter, make sure it is completely melted before drizzling it over the bread to ensure even coating.
• Whether you use oil or butter, be sure to toss the bread cubes until they are evenly coated.
• You can also add your seasonings of choice to the oil or butter before coating the bread to ensure that the flavours are well distributed.

Seasoning options

For a classic crouton, garlic powder is a must-have. You can also add black pepper and dried parsley. If you want to add a cheesy twist, sprinkle on some Parmesan cheese.

If you want to get creative with your seasoning combinations, here are some ideas:

• Ranch: Use powdered ranch dressing mix or a combination of dried chives, dried parsley, dried dill weed, garlic powder, onion powder, and salt.
• Garlic Parmesan: Sprinkle the bread cubes with grated Parmesan, garlic powder, dried parsley, and salt.
• Onion and Garlic: Use onion powder, garlic powder, dried parsley, and salt.
• Southwest: Sprinkle the cubed bread with chili powder, ground cumin, paprika, garlic powder, oregano, black pepper, cayenne pepper, and salt.

You can also experiment with different types of dried herbs like oregano, dill, or chives, or sprinkle on some dried Italian seasoning. For a hint of spice, try smoked paprika or cayenne, or go for an aromatic blend with curry powder.

Don't be afraid to mix and match different seasonings to find your perfect combination!

Cutting the bread

To make croutons for fondue, you can use any bread you like. Sourdough, French bread, Italian bread, brown bread, white bread, wheat bread, Texas toast, buns, rolls, baguettes, and hamburger buns are all options. If you're using pre-sliced sandwich bread, you'll end up with smaller croutons.

For the best results, you'll want to cut your bread into evenly sized cubes. Keep in mind that the cubes will shrink a little as they cook. The size of the cubes is up to you, but aim for uniformity so that they cook evenly.

If you're using fresh bread, it might be a little harder to cut into cubes, and it will take a little longer to cook. Day-old (or older) bread is ideal because it has a head start on getting nice and crispy.

Once you've cut up your bread, you're ready to move on to the next step of making croutons: coating them with oil and seasonings.

Baking time

The baking time for your croutons will depend on the type of bread you use, the size of your bread cubes, and how crispy you like your croutons. Smaller cubes will bake faster than larger ones, and older, staler bread will bake faster than fresh bread.

As a general rule, you'll want to bake your croutons until they are golden brown and crispy, which usually takes around 10 to 20 minutes. If you're using a stovetop method, cook your croutons over low heat for 8-10 minutes, turning them often so they brown evenly. For oven-baked croutons, a temperature of 350°F is typical, and you'll want to bake them for around 15 minutes, flipping them halfway through. Keep an eye on them to make sure they don't burn. If they're browning too quickly, lower the heat and let them bake slower.

Once they're done to your liking, remove them from the oven and let them cool. If you're not serving them right away, store them in an airtight container. They should last for about a week to two weeks, depending on the recipe.

Frequently asked questions