Pangrattato (Italian Bread Crumbs)

Pangrattato is an easy but flavorful Italian bread crumb topping that may elevate any dish. In Italian delicacies, pangrattato, also known as ‘poor man’s Parmesan, is a means so as to add texture and taste to dishes. 

Standard recipes utilizing this Pangrattato recipe: Butternut Squash Ravioli, Mushroom Ravioli, and Italian Stuffed Artichokes.

What’s Pangrattato

Pangrattato, the Italian phrase for bread crumbs, is an Italian bread crumb topping comprised of stale bread, garlic, and herbs, fried in olive oil till golden and crispy.

This flavorful garnish is historically made by frying or baking bread crumbs in olive oil, then including garlic, herbs, and spices.

Elements

This recipe for pangrattato is a fundamental recipe. You possibly can definitely amp it up, however you’ll want to make use of this as the premise:

Bread – stale bread works finest (sourdough bread, French, and wheat work nicely!)
Garlic
Contemporary Herbs
Olive Oil

How To Make

There are two methods to make pangrattato at house: oven-baked or pan-fried. We go together with oven-baked, however both means works nicely.

Oven-Baked

1. Pulse the bread in a meals processor.2. Add the herbs, garlic and seasonings and blend to mix.3. Drizzle within the olive oil.4. Prepare dinner for 60-90 minutes, stirring each quarter-hour.

Pan-Fried

1. Pulse the bread in a meals processor.2. Warmth the olive oil in a big skillet and add the garlic.3. Add the breadcrumbs and prepare dinner for 4-5 minutes, till golden brown.4. Add the herbs and seasonings and prepare dinner for one more 1-2 minutes.

Earlier than and After

The image on the left exhibits the breadcrumb combine earlier than oven-baking and the image on the best exhibits it after it comes out of the oven.

Add-in Concepts

The great thing about pangrattato lies in its simplicity and flexibility, however you may step it up to fit your style. Listed below are some fashionable add-in substances to think about:

Herbs – Thyme or Parsley
Lemon Zest
Crimson Pepper Flakes
Anchovies

Seasoned Bread Crumbs Makes use of

Listed below are our favourite methods to make the most of this Italian breadcrumb topping:

Pasta Topping – Add texture and taste to any pasta dish. Its gives a pleasant distinction to delicate, tender pasta.

Salad Topping – Sprinkle pangrattato over salads for an added crunch. It really works significantly nicely with Caesar salads.

Baked Greens – Toss pangrattato with greens earlier than roasting them. It can kind a flavorful, crispy coating because the greens roast.

Casserole Topping – Sprinkle on high of casseroles earlier than baking. 

Breaded Hen – Bread hen for a twist on conventional breaded hen. (Shake and Bake Hen or Milanesa de Pollo.

Meatloaf Coating – Add to meatloaf to maintain the meatloaf moist (Smoked Meatloaf)

Fish Topping – Coat fish fillets earlier than baking or broiling for a crispy crust.

Macaroni and Cheese – Stir pangrattato into the highest layer of your macaroni and cheese for a crunchy topping.

Stuffed Peppers – Combine pangrattato with floor meat, rice, and seasonings for a flavorful stuffed pepper filling.

Baked Clams or Mussels – Prime clams or mussels with pangrattato after which broil till the pangrattato is golden and the shellfish are cooked. (Steamer Clams)

Eggplant Parmesan – Use rather than breadcrumbs in eggplant Parmesan recipe.

Variations

Just like bacon, the longer the bread crumbs sit, after pulling from the oven, the crispier they’ll get.
Add a little bit of salty umami by including grated cheese. Factor Parmesan cheese, Pecorino Romano or Grana Padano.

Storing Pangrattato

It’s necessary to retailer your pangrattato correctly, so it maintains its crunch. Retailer in an hermetic container at room temperature, and it ought to final 1-2 weeks.

To maintain it recent longer, freeze for as much as three months.

The inspiration for our recipe makes use of oregano, in order that’s one other herb to think about!