The crumbled mixture you get after grinding toasted or leftover bread is known as bread crumbs.
This is one of the popular ingredients while making a dish which requires frying of any kind.
Bread crumbs are always made when the bread is not fresh, as its mostly soft when it’s fresh.
To get the perfect texture of bread crumbs, fresh slices of bread are left untouched for 3-4 days and then they are crushed in a bowl or added in a grinder jar.
You might have noticed that the bread crumbs can be of different colours – from off white to light brown and dark brown.
This depends on the kind of bread used for them whether it’s fresh, toasted or dried (3-4 days old).
They are best used for those dishes which require a crispy outer layer like fish balls, fritters, cheese sticks, etc.
Many would not be knowing that bread crumbs are also added in gravies for thickening.
Here are 7 such dishes that you can quickly make with bread crumbs…
1. Garlic flavoured bread crumbs spaghetti
To prepare this delicious pasta that you can prepare in just 20-30 minutes, boil 250 grams of spaghetti pasta in enough water with a bit of salt till al dente. Once boiled, put a skillet over medium flame and sauté 1 ½ cup panko bread crumbs along with chopped garlic in about 4-5 tbsp of extra virgin olive oil. When the bread crumbs are brown, turn off the flame and transfer the bread crumbs in a large bowl and mix with ¼ cup nutritional yeast. Now, put the skillet back on medium flame and add the boiled pasta in it along with garlic flavoured bread crumbs and a little lemon juice. Toss well and add a tablespoon of olive oil on top. Sprinkle salt and black pepper to taste and your dish will be ready in no time. You can also add some walnuts in the dish for a little crunchiness.
2. Bread crumbs fried fish
For this amazing fish recipe, marinate 250 grams fish fillets with 1 tbsp lemon juice, salt and black pepper powder to taste. Then, prepare the coating by beating 2 eggs using an electric beater. Place 4-5 tbsp of flour in a plate and 1 cup bread crumbs in another. Now, put a wok over medium flame and heat 1-2 cups of vegetable oil in it. When the oil is hot enough, take one fish fillet, roll into flour then dip into the egg mixture, and lastly with bread crumbs. Put this fillet in hot oil and deep fry until golden in colour. Repeat the procedure to make more such fish fillets and make sure you drain the extra oil in paper towels. Enjoy with your favourite dip.
3. Sweet potato fritters
These fritters can be made in just 20 minutes. All you need to do is wash and peel 1 kg of sweet potatoes. Grate them using a grater in a large bowl. Peel and finely chop 1 onion in another bowl. Then, finely chop 1 capsicum as well. Now, break open two eggs and beat them well. Add sweet potatoes, onion and capsicum in this egg mixture along with 1 ½ cup of bread crumbs and salt and black pepper as per your taste. Meanwhile, put a wok over medium flame and heat 1-2 cups of virgin olive oil in it. When the oil is hot enough, take a little amount of this mixture and shape into a small bowl. Press a little to flatten the ball and add into the hot oil. Deep fry until crispy and golden in colour. Repeat the process until all the mixture is done. Enjoy with tomato ketchup or cheese sauce.
4. Panko crusted shrimps
This crunchy shrimp’s recipe can become an ultimate starter in any party. To make this easy recipe, take a large bowl and crack 5-6 eggs in it. Combine them with 5-6 tbsp of full cream milk and 1 bunch of parsley. You can beat them using an electric beater. Next, season the all-purpose flour with some salt and pepper to taste. Now, put a wok over medium flame with 2 cups of vegetable oil in it. Afterwards, take from the lot of 500 grams of washed and dried shrimps, take one shrimp and coat with seasoned flour. Then, dip it into the egg and milk mixture and roll into 2 cups of panko bread crumbs. Place it into the oil and deep fry until golden in colour. Repeat the process with other shrimps and place them on an absorbent paper. Enjoy hot with your favourite dips.
5. Potato croquettes
This is an amazing delight for all the potato lovers. To prepare these croquettes, boil 4-5 large potatoes in a pressure cooker. Once boiled, peel and mash them in a large bowl. Next, put a saucepan over medium flame and melt 100-150 grams of butter in it. Sauté 1 small onion (finely chopped) and 4 garlic cloves (chopped) in it and then add 1 tsp of thyme in it. Once done, turn off the flame. Mix this onion-garlic mixture with mashed potatoes and salt and pepper to taste. Now, add 1 egg yolk in this mixture and beat once. The mixture will turn soft. Take a little amount of potato mixture and shape it into a ball, and keep aside. Afterwards, add your favourite cheese in each of the balls and roll again. Finally, make the coating for these balls by mixing together 1 cup of all-purpose flour with 2 whole eggs and 1 egg yolk. Then, place 2 cups of bread crumbs in another large bowl. Now, take a cheese-filled ball and dip into the flour-egg mixture and then roll into the bread crumbs. Heat 2 cups of vegetable oil on medium flame in a wok and deep fry these potato croquettes. You can enjoy them hot with any dip of your choice.
6. Mozzarella sticks
Take 250 grams of mozzarella cheese and cut into long sticks. To make the coating batter, mix 1 cup all-purpose flour with salt and black pepper to taste, combine it with water to make the final batter. Now, take a mozzarella stick and dip into the flour batter. After that, roll it into 1 ½ cups of bread crumbs and keep aside. Repeat the process till all the sticks are coated with flour mixture and breadcrumbs. Meanwhile, heat 2 cups of vegetable oil in a wok over medium flame. When the oil is hot enough, dip mozzarella sticks one by one and deep fry for 2-3 minutes until golden in colour. Make sure that the cheese does not melt in between. Enjoy them hot with tomato ketchup. (Note: You bake these mozzarella sticks as well at 180-degree C.)
7. Fried corn patties
For these perfect corn patties that are amazingly delicious, parboil 500 grams of sweet corns with a little salt in them. Once parboiled, blend them well using a blender in a large bowl. Add 1 cup of sweet corn cream, 2 tbsp of sugar, 4 large grated carrots, 1 litre of milk and ½ cup of water with 1 tsp salt in it. Mix well all the ingredients. Now, place a deep-bottomed pan over medium flame and heat 3-4 tbsp of vegetable oil. When the oil is hot enough, add this corn mixture in it and cook over medium flame. Add 1 ½ cup of corn flour and mix well.
Cook for about 5-7 minutes or until the mixture has thickened. Once done, transfer the corn mixture in a large bowl and mix 1 cup of parmesan cheese in it. Take a baking tray and grease it with ½ tsp butter. Transfer the corn mixture in this baking tray and using a spatula, spread it evenly. Now, using a sharp knife, cut the mixture in the desired shapes and sizes. Take a bowl and mix ½ cup all-purpose flour and ¼ cup of corn flour. Add some salt and black pepper to taste and mix with enough water to make a batter for coating these patties. Finally, put a wok over medium high flame and heat 2 cups of vegetable oil in it. Take a patty and dip into the flour batter and then roll into 2 cups of panko breadcrumbs. Carefully, place it into the hot oil and deep fry until golden in colour. Repeat to make more such patties. Once done, enjoy these Fried Corn Patties with chilli sauce and tomato ketchup. You can use them for making Crispy Corn Patty Burgers.