Toasted Bread Crumb And Butter Sauce Recipes

BUTTERED BREADCRUMBS

Steps:

• Melt butter in a small skillet over medium low heat. As soon as butter is melted and frothy, stir in breadcrumbs. Continue stirring until crumbs are evenly crisp and golden brown.
• If using any of the above mentioned variations add to the finshed buttered breadcrumbs.

TOASTED BREAD CRUMB AND BUTTER SAUCE

Steps:

• Toast the bread crumbs in a small skillet (see page 93), tossing and stirring them, until they start to color. When they are almost completely browned, drop in 2 tablespoons of butter. Take the pan off the heat, and swirl it to melt the butter and stop the crumbs from darkening further.
• Melt the remaining butter in a big skillet over medium heat; grind pepper in generously.
• Ladle in 1 cup hot pasta water and cook actively for a couple of minutes, reducing the sauce slightly. Keep at low simmer until the pasta is ready.
• Toss cooked pasta and sauce together in the skillet. Off the heat, toss in the cheese and sprinkle the toasted bread crumbs on top of the pasta, just before serving.
• Follow the recipe for Toasted Bread Crumb and Butter Sauce above, but substitute 2 tablespoons poppy seeds for the crumbs. Toast them in the dry pan until they are fragrant, reserve some for topping if you like, then add the butter and swirl them together.
• Toss cooked pasta and sauce together in the skillet. Off the heat, toss in grated cheese and sprinkle the reserved toasted poppy seeds on top, just before serving. This sauce is especially good with Ricotta Ravioli.
• Egg pasta-tagliatelle
• Cornmeal pasta
• Ricotta Ravioli (page 181)
• Potato, Leek, and Bacon Ravioli (page 186)
• A simple pasta such as rigatoni or linguine

PASTA WITH GARLIC OIL AND TOASTED BREAD CRUMBS

Steps:

• Adjust oven rack to middle position, place large oven-safe serving bowl on rack, and heat oven to 200 degrees. Prepare pasta according to directions on package, reserving 1/2 cup pasta cooking water before draining.
• Heat butter in heavy-bottomed 10-inch skillet over medium-high heat until foaming. Add bread crumbs and cook, stirring frequently, until golden brown, toasted, and fragrant, 2 to 3 minutes. Transfer crumbs to small bowl and mix in cheese and 1/2 teaspoon minced garlic; set aside. Wipe out now-empty skillet with large wad of paper towels.
• Mix remaining minced garlic with 1 teaspoon water. Heat olive oil, garlic, and pepper flakes in cleaned skillet over medium heat until fragrant, about 2 minutes. Add vermouth, reserved pasta cooking water, remaining 1 teaspoon salt, and pepper to taste; cook to blend flavors, about 1 minute longer. Toss pasta and sauce in warm serving bowl; sprinkle bread crumbs over and serve immediately.

TOASTED BREADCRUMBS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350°F. Pare away all the crust from: Levain or other country-style bread.
• Cut the bread into cubes and process in a blender or food processor until the crumbs reach the fineness you want. Toss with: A pinch of salt, 1 tablespoon olive oil for every cup of breadcrumbs.
• Spread the crumbs on a baking sheet in a thin layer. Bake until golden brown, stirring the crumbs every few minutes for even browning.
• Variations
• Fry a handful of herbs in hot olive oil over medium heat until crisp. Drain well and toss together with the toasted crumbs and a pinch of salt, if needed.
• A few dried chile flakes can be mixed into the crumbs for spice.