Pangrattato (10-Minute Crispy Italian Breadcrumbs)
Step aside, Parmesan—pangrattato, the crispy, flavor-packed Italian breadcrumb topping, is here to elevate your pasta! Known as 'poor man's Parmesan,' this quick, budget-friendly garnish brings an irresistible crunch and depth of flavor in just 10 minutes.
Servings: 4
Ingredients
- 2½ ounces bread (Around 2 slices) Slightly stale or 1-day-old is best. There should be roughly 1 cup of breadcrumbs.
- 1 tablespoon fresh rosemary
- 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- 2 cloves garlic peeled and kept whole, but crushed with the flat part of a knife
- ½ teaspoon mixed dried herbs
- ½ teaspoon salt
Instructions
- Start by making the breadcrumbs. Tear the stale bread into chunks in a food processor (I use a small one), then add the rosemary. Pulse them until you have coarse breadcrumbs and chopped rosemary.
- Heat up the olive oil and garlic cloves in a large wide frying pan or other pan on a low to medium heat. Stir the garlic continuously to infuse the flavor into the oil. Once a breadcrumb added to the pan sizzles a little, remove the garlic. Then stir in the breadcrumb mixture until they are well mixed with the oil.
- Sprinkle over the dried herbs and salt. Then cook and stir continuously, or until the breadcrumbs are golden but of course not burnt. Keep a close eye on them towards the end of cooking.
- Take off the heat. To serve, sprinkle over your pasta, vegetables, soup, or other dish and eat immediately while still very crisp. Let any leftovers cool completely then store in a clean dry jar with a lid for up to 2 weeks.
Video
Notes
Type of bread: It doesn't really matter! As long as it is on the drier/stale side. Try sourdough, Italian style ciabatta/focaccia etc, your favorite loaf, or even just regular white sliced bread.
If it isn't dry enough, dry it out for 10 to 15 minutes in the oven (around 300F/150C).
And yes, the recipe does also work with ready-made breadcrumbs, including panko, but I suggest trying making your own for a chunkier, rustic effect!
To serve: If you like, you can stir in fresh herbs, lemon zest, or parmesan cheese before serving. Don't add any of these things if you expect there to be leftovers. You can save the leftovers in a jar for up to 2 weeks, but not if you add fresh ingredients.
Storage instructions: As explained above, you can keep the completely cooled pangrattato in a clean dry jar with a lid in the pantry for up to 2 weeks. You could freeze it for longer, but you'll probably need to crisp them up in a hot pan again before using.
Nutrition
Calories: 145kcal | Carbohydrates: 9g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 11g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 8g | Trans Fat: 0.01g | Sodium: 375mg | Potassium: 36mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 20IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 29mg | Iron: 1mg
