Salads, like many other food categories, follow trend cycles. Remember when kale salads were not a common sight on American tables? Now, they are ubiquitous. Nowadays, if you were to list down the top restaurant salads (guilty as charged, I have made such lists), many would feature an unexpected ingredient: breadcrumbs, usually associated with fried foods and casseroles. And I’m completely on board with this trend.
My ultimate favorite salad is a Caesar salad, but I can’t recall the last time I saw croutons adorning a Caesar salad in a New York City eatery. Where have all the croutons disappeared to? It seems they’ve found a new life as crunchy breadcrumbs, thanks to the food processor. This trend is prevalent not only in upscale restaurants like Lilia in Brooklyn, where I reside, but also in cozy wine bars like The Fly or even my local pizzeria, Speedy Romeo. And honestly, it’s a stroke of genius.
How many times have I struggled with dull salad knives trying to break down stubborn, hard croutons that end up crumbling or bouncing off my plate onto the floor? Using breadcrumbs instead of croutons solves that issue. Moreover, freshly toasted breadcrumbs add an extra layer of flavor and texture to every forkful without overshadowing the real stars of the salad—the greens and veggies. Many restaurants have ditched croutons altogether, so why not follow suit at home? Instead of saving stale bread or buying fresh loaves for homemade croutons, utilize the breadcrumbs likely already sitting in your pantry.
What type of breadcrumbs should you sprinkle on your salad? Any kind will do, as long as you toast them in butter or oil. You can always make your breadcrumbs by blitzing stale, hearty bread in a food processor, as Kenji does in his spring vegetable salad. However, for a quicker salad enhancement, opt for store-bought plain breadcrumbs and season them at home. The Caesar breadcrumbs and pickle juice-infused breadcrumbs from our take on the viral fried pickle dip are tasty options. If you’ve put in the effort to prepare a homemade Caesar dressing for a classic Caesar salad, keep it simple with plain toasted panko breadcrumbs. Just mix a tablespoon of butter or oil with a quarter cup of breadcrumbs, toast in a pan until golden, then season with salt and pepper.
On your next grocery run for salad fixings, remember to restock your breadcrumb supply. This simple swap will elevate your homemade salads and introduce a world of crispy possibilities.
