Bread Croutons (fried bread pieces) for Soups.

"Bread Croutons (fried bread pieces) for Soups" ... sharing a simple method of making heart shaped Bread Croutons ... somehow these have lost their way from our kitchens and they no more adorn the soups that looked so appetizing ... I am sure a piece or two will lure your child into sipping on hot soups prepared with lots of veggies that can be the healthiest choice ... You can deep fry them, toast them or tava fry them and serve topped on soup just before serving ... You can make them into different shapes using cutters or scissors too ...  above all you can prepare them with brown bread or any other of your choice, there are plenty of choice in bread now ... Yummilicious ...   

** Re-Edited on 19th December 2020, but the method remains same. 

** Ahhaa the joy of seeing those croutons dunked into hot steaming soups, something we grew up relishing and waited eagerly for mom to serve them piping hot to us. Nothing beats that joy, then came the spoilsport news that breads are not healthy and they never saw the light of day now for decades. In my view anything eaten in limits once in a way is good enough, isn't that so?? My parents and grandparents survived a good healthy life having them then where is the harm?? The harm actually lies in excess consumption and lack of exercise which they did and we do not compared to our easy lifestyle days now. 

** There was always the rightfully said saying "Earn your Bread" while many took it in monetary means which is not so. A statement can have depths of meanings and one should not just judge the book by its cover, you not only need to read through the lines to understand but also live the character lives as you read through, same is the saying on bread. Slog it out and reach out for that piece of bread and one will be fine. During childhood we played out in open grounds a lot, almost an hour or two on daily basis, which not only kept out active but made digestion of heavy food easy, that is exactly what we lack now. 

** Coming to the "Croutons" when I had posted this large bowl full of delicious healthy soup topped with heart shaped bread crouton, many of my friends asked me about how I obtained the crouton shape, this was way back in 2015 a good five years back. I am re-editing the post as those days I did not know much of blogging. This posting was made then separately so that it does not get mixed with other’s on the line of dishes. You just need to press hard any sharp mold/ cutter on the slice of bread and you will get the it as shown in the picture, I have used cutlet maker to get this heart shaped crouton. 

** Those days we had to use our imaginations unlike now where in plenty of cutters in different shapes are easily available and you can use them in preparation of biscuit, bread cutting, cutlets, patties, cakes etc. etc. etc. the list is endless for an innovative mind. Again I would like to mention here that I have used brown bread as those were the best next to the normal maida/ APF bread available then. Now, unlike those days the choices breads are in plenty too. You can prepare your own bread too using different flours that are now easily available in the market. I have not yet learnt the art of making bread as I find it tedious.

** Having said that if you have a family who loves bread do venture into baking, my friends vouch it is the most satisfying hobby of all times. Not only do you and your family get to eat good bakes but they will be healthier option too. Involve your kids in helping to prepare that way they proudly claim preparing it and eat it too. The remaining can be prepared into croutons and stored as it remains good for about a week if taken well care off. I am sure now I have given you enough reasons to try these croutons dunked into soups to relish and try out for yourself if you have never had them or if you have discarded the idea.

** For those curious "Croutons" are nothing but deep fried bread pieces added to any dish you desire. It is one of the best ways of using leftover bread slices and decades back it was a craze to serve tomato soap with floating croutons. In restaurants they always added them just before serving and we so looked forward to it. In those days one added them while preparing pulavs or biryani too though personally I do not. The same can be sprinkled with finely ground sugar along with some cinnamon or cardamom powder, immediately upon frying and children love to eat them served hot as a snack during holidays, well me too love it. 

** Now a days due to health awareness people have foregone this oily dish, as it does really turn out oily and I must agree is not at all good for people with health issues, so is the case for all if the same is indulged upon. However, as I mentioned above  to have something in limits and on occasions is OK I guess. After all one should always have the satisfaction of good or tasty food and not keep missing and yearning for it. Having said that you can also toast them in oven, airfry them (latest method) or tava fry or even tava grill them with just a dash of ghee or butter applied on the surface, though the result will slightly vary. 

** The real method of preparing "Croutons" is simple and very easy. Though these are usually prepared with left over bread slices, if you need them in bulk you can prepare them buying fresh ones too. My mom usually cut them into one inch sized squares and deep fried them and put them in an air tight container to serve it with soups for me and my sisters. We simply used to love these floating croutons that used to get dunked with soup and swell to softness and always demanded for more, though "Sigh!" she never ever gave them to us in excess. How we miss those days, childhood memories are sooooo nostalgic. 

** After all the hoo haas about bread consumption, even I stopped preparing them though I simply loved and missed them very much.  A decade back, I decided enough is enough and that I would prepare and eat just one or two of them, especially during winter when I always prepared soups as our dinner, as not only is it appetizing, but delicious and tummy filling too. These croutons are prepared using brown bread and cut into heart shape using cutlet mold as you can see in the picture collage. You can also cut them round with the sharp lid of steel dabbas, or any other dish rims, just keep in mind that they need to be sharp edged.

** Just keep the cutter/ mold at the center of the slice of bread and press down firmly. Remove the cut bread gently out and deep fry in plenty of hot oil. Remove and place the fried pieces in an absorbent paper for the excess oil to get drained off. You can store them in an airtight container as remain good for 4-5 days which will solve you time issues of last minute preparations if you have guests dropping in. Though I would recommend freshly fried and used with 2 hours, there is not harm in storing too, my mom did follow that method each time there was left over bread slices as those days bread was something rarely brought at home.

** Again, do not discard the cut out edges or left over sides of the bread slices. Just crumble them and roast and you have bread crumbs ready to be used as an outer coating to cutlets etc. You can also cut them into small pieces and prepare bread usli/ upma, you can use them in preparing caramel custard, rava bhakri, dosa, appo, trust me the choices are unlimited. I have posted so many dishes in my Blog, you can use the search option and browse through and prepare them if convenient, the choice is yours. However, my request to all is never waste food, recycle them if you must and if you still do not want it give it away when fresh. 

** "Bread Croutons (fried bread pieces) are done and ready to be served. Go ahead and add in one or two pieces depending on the size of them into you steaming hot soup just before serving and enjoy a relaxed dinner. Hot steaming soups with floating croutons were a delight for both children, teenagers, young and old alike to relish on. That really was the craze amongst people in the year of 1970-80’s. All hotels used to serve tomato soups, the most desired soup of all times, with a few square shaped croutons floating on top and we just loved them. Go for it once in a way and do give me feedback if you loved them too like me.