How to make breadcrumbs

Breadcrumbs serve as excellent toppings for a many dishes, adding extra flavour and providing a delightful crunch and texture. Breadcrumbs can be used in a variety of ways, from salads and soups to pasta, gourmet burgers, or crumbled chicken dishes. Learn how to create breadcrumbs from fresh bread in a few simple steps.

How to use breadcrumbs

Sprinkled on roasted vegetables 

Enhance the taste and texture of roasted vegetables by either sprinkling crispy breadcrumbs on top or serving them alongside your main. It’s an easy way to elevate this dish and add a delightful crunch to every bite.

Layered on seafood

When cooking seafood or fish fillets, a layer of crusted breadcrumbs will add a crunch that contrasts with the fish and enhances the overall texture of your meal.

Baked with pasta 

Try sprinkling breadcrumbs onto your pasta before serving it, or if you’re preparing a pasta bake, add breadcrumbs before baking it in the oven. It will give another layer of flavour and texture that you never knew you needed.

Coated on chicken 

Breadcrumbs are a wonderful way to coat fried or baked chicken for an extra crispy bite. You can also use panko breadcrumbs, almond flakes or a mixture of seeds as delicious crumb alternatives. 

Seasoning for meats 

Breadcrumbs can also be used as an ingredient in marinades or rubs, when you want to season meats before cooking them.

Making breadcrumbs

There are two main types of breadcrumbs: fresh and dried. “Panko” is Japanese for breadcrumbs, and they are known for being light and crispy because they’re made from crustless white bread that is full of air.

How to make breadcrumbs from fresh bread

Place bread slices into a food processor and pulse until the breadcrumbs are your desired size. Make sure that all crumbs are about the same size so that they’ll be evenly distributed when you cook them.

How to make dried breadcrumbs

To create dried breadcrumbs, bake bread slices at a low temperature in the oven until they are thoroughly dried out. Then, pulse the bread in a food processor until it is finely ground into small breadcrumbs. Ensure that you do not completely break down the breadcrumbs into a flour-like consistency.

Breadcrumb recipes

Crumbed fish 

Ingredients:

• 2 fillets of your favourite fish (about 360g)
• 2 tablespoons of breadcrumbs
• 2 tablespoons of all-purpose white flour
• 1 tablespoon of olive oil 
• 1 egg 
• Salt and pepper
• Lemon juice (optional) 

Step 1: Wash the fish fillets and pat them dry with a paper towel. Season with salt and pepper, place them in a baking dish and drizzle with lemon juice. 

Step 2: Mix the breadcrumbs with some flour and season to taste with salt and pepper. 

Step 3: Beat the egg in a separate bowl. 

Step 4: Preheat oil in a deep frying pan to around 200°C. 

Step 5: Cover the seasoned fish fillets completely in all-purpose flour, then dip them into the egg mixture. Roll the fillets into the breadcrumbs to ensure they’re fully covered. 

Step 6: Cook the fillets in the frying pan until golden. Place the fried fillets on a paper towel to soak up any excess oil before serving.

Meat with breadcrumbs

Ingredients:

• 2 kg of meat or chicken cutlets
• 4 cups of dry breadcrumbs
• 1 tablespoon of garlic powder
• 2 eggs beaten with 3 tablespoons of water 
• 1/2 cup of vegetable oil 
• Salt

Step 1: Slice the meat into thin pieces if it’s not already cut.

Step 2: In a small bowl, beat the eggs with a little water until they are frothy. 

Step 3: Spread the breadcrumbs on an aluminium foil-topped baking tray, then top with salt and garlic powder. 

Step 4: Dip each slice of meat into the egg and then coat in breadcrumbs. Place one piece at a time in the skillet and fry until golden brown.

HelloFresh recipes with breadcrumbs

Looking for some crunchy recipes to try with breadcrumbs? Here are some favourites:

• Zesty Garlic Chicken and Bacon-Potato Salad 
• Crumbed Haloumi Burger and BBQ Cherry Sauce
• Katsu Crumbed Chicken and Ginger Rice
• Parmesan Crumbed Chicken Strips and Garlic Veggies

Cook easy-to-follow recipes with pre-measured ingredients and all the tools you need right at your fingertips. Take a look at more HelloFresh recipes on the menu.