Homemade Haitian Bread Croutons with Epis (Green Seasoning Blend)
Bread Croutons with Epis have the perfect crunch and flavor for your best salad recipe. Crispy and perfectly spiced, great as a topping for your favorite soup and a great snack.
Making homemade croutons is fun! Homemade bread croutons are versatile because you can choose whatever seasoning blend you prefer.
Homemade croutons are perfect when you either buy too much bread or get old. We all love fresh bread, and what better way to enjoy your day-old fresh bread. Make homemade croutons with Epis.
Epis is the Haitian creole term for green seasoning blend. My Epis version is made with the following ingredients.
- Parsley: fresh, roughly chopped.
- Garlic Cloves: fresh whole cloves
- Thyme: fresh, roughly chopped. Remove the leaves from the tougher sprigs.
- Green Bell Pepper: chopped or sliced
- Leek: thoroughly cleaned and chopped.
- Onion: white or yellow
- Whole Peppercorn or Ground Black Pepper
- Whole Clove: this is an optional ingredient, but it gives a lot of flavor to the blend.
- Lemon Juice: fresh is always better.
All the ingredients are placed in a blender or food processor and blended until smooth. The epis blend is used to season all types of food, and this recipe for homemade Haitian bread croutons.
What is Haitian Bread
We, meaning Haitians, differentiate the type of bread this way. Haitian bread is hearty, soft, dense, and moist. The bread is delicious and best enjoyed warm with butter or peanut butter. To buy this type of bread, visit your nearest Haitian bakery. Don’t forget to buy more goodies and especially the patties.
Homemade Bread Croutons ingredients
Only three other ingredients are needed if you already have your seasoning blend jar in the refrigerator.
- Haitian Bread: this recipe is with Haitian bread, but you can use your preferred bread. Probably a day or two days old.
- Green Seasoning Blend or Epis: this is a wet seasoning. Remember that this recipe will taste differently if your seasoning herbs blend is different.
- Olive oil: always use good oil.
- Salt: use in moderation. Remember that the bread already contains salt.
- Ground Black Pepper: use in moderation. Too much pepper may make the croutons a bit too peppery or spicy.
You can also use other seasonings such as Noubess Garlic and Herbs, Italian Seasoning, or Herbs de Provence.
How to make the homemade croutons
- Prepare your seasoning blend: If you already have the seasoning (epis), place the amount you need in a separate bowl with the olive oil.
- Dice your bread: with a knife, slice, and dice the bread in equal sizes to cubes. The croutons must be uniform size to cook evenly in the oven.
- Mix ingredients: In a large bowl, place the bread cubes, and drizzle the oil and seasoning mixture. Toss until the bread cubes are evenly combined.
- Bake on a baking sheet until crispy: place and spread out on a single layer of the croutons onto a parchment-covered baking sheet.
- Serve: Serve immediately as a topping for your salad or soup or enjoy as a snack.
- Store: let the croutons cool completely, then store in a sealed container for two weeks.
Notes and Tips
Making homemade croutons are easy, and there are a few tips to remember.
- Croutons are versatile, and you add them to anything you want.
- Make croutons with your favorite bread
- Add dried seasoning or wet seasoning.
- Add parmesan cheese.
- Croutons will last about a week.
- You can freeze croutons. Re-heat and keep them crisp by putting them in the oven for a few minutes.
- Use oil or melted butter with seasoning.
HOW TO MAKE HOMEMADE CROUTONS
Ingredients
- 3 mini loaves of Haitian Bread or 1 loaf of bread about 12 ounces, cut into 3/4-inch cubes
- 1/4 cup olive oil
- 2 teaspoons homemade Haitian Epis Green Seasoning Blend
- 3/4 teaspoon fine sea salt or to taste, and optional if your seasoning blend does not contain salt.
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper or more to taste
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375°F.
- Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside.
- In a medium bowl, mix together the oil and the seasoning blend until well combined.
- Slice and dice the bread in equal sizes to cubes. It is important that the croutons are uniform size so that they cook evenly in the oven.
- In a large bowl, place the bread cubes and drizzle, the oil and seasoning mixture. Toss until the bread cubes are evenly combined.
- Place and spread out the croutons on a single layer onto a parchment-covered baking sheet.
- Bake for approximately 10 minutes and stir so all sides can brown. Bake an additional 4 – 6 minutes or until crisp and golden.
- Serve immediately as a topping for your salad or soup or enjoy as a snack.
Notes
- To store, let the croutons cool completely then store in a sealed container for up to 2 weeks.
- Making homemade croutons are easy and there are a few tips to remember. Croutons are versatile, and you add them to anything you want.
- Make croutons with your favorite bread Add dried seasoning or wet seasoning. Add parmesan cheese.
- Croutons will last about a week.
- You can freeze croutons. Re-heat and keep them crisp by putting them in the oven for a few minutes. Use oil or melted butter with seasoning.
Please keep in mind that nutritional information is a rough estimate and can vary greatly based on the products used.
Nutrition info is automatically generated and provided as a courtesy and as an estimate only.
