Crunchy "Gremolata" Breadcrumbs
Crunchy "Gremolata" Breadcrumbs
Gremolata is a zesty Italian herb sauce made of herbs, lemon, and garlic, often drizzled over soups, stews, meats, or pasta. In our version, we've added breadcrumbs for a subtle crunch! Try it over Fletter's Favorite Fast Fresh Tomato-Basil Pasta or any other dish for a fantastic flavor boost!
Happy & Healthy Cooking,
Fun-Da-Mentals Kitchen Skills
- measure :
to calculate the specific amount of an ingredient required using a measuring tool (like measuring cups or spoons).
- mix :
to thoroughly combine two or more ingredients until uniform in texture.
- toast :
to brown and crisp food in a heated skillet or oven, or in a toaster.
Equipment Checklist
- Skillet (optional)
- Medium mixing bowl
- Dry measuring cups
- Measuring spoons
- Wooden spoon
Ingredients
Crunchy "Gremolata" Breadcrumbs
- 1 C panko bread crumbs **(for GLUTEN ALLERGY sub gluten-free/nut-free bread crumbs)**
- few fresh basil leaves
- 1 tsp dried oregano
- 1 pinch salt
- 1 pinch ground black pepper
- 2 tsp olive oil
Food Allergen Substitutions
Crunchy "Gremolata" Breadcrumbs
- Gluten/Wheat: Substitute gluten-free/nut-free breadcrumbs.
Instructions
Crunchy "Gremolata" Breadcrumbs
measure + mix
In a medium mixing bowl, measure and mix 1 cup panko bread crumbs, a few hand torn fresh basil leaves, 1 teaspoon dried oregano, 1 pinch of salt, 1 pinch of black pepper, and 2 teaspoons olive oil. Once fully mixed, you can serve right away or toast them in a dry skillet on high heat for 1 minute. Stir the whole time. This will result in a lightly browned, toasty gremolata topping.
sprinkle + serve
Sprinkle your tasty topping all over the top of your Fletter’s Favorite Fast Tomato-Basil Pasta (see recipe) and enjoy!
Hi! I'm a Bread Crumb!
"Just like my name sounds, I come from bread! I'm just one of many bread crumbs that are used by cooks the world over to bread meats and vegetables, to bind and add bulk to foods like meatloaf, and to top casseroles. We come in three different forms: dry, fresh, and panko."
- Dry bread crumbs come from toasted and finely ground bread. Any bread can be used. You can make them at home by grinding baked or toasted bread in a blender, food processor, or with a grater. You can also purchase them in a grocery store. They are sometimes seasoned with herbs and spices like salt, garlic powder, onion powder, oregano, and parsley. Seasoned bread crumbs are usually called Italian-style bread crumbs. Dry bread crumbs are used to bread foods before frying or baking. They add bulk to and help bind ingredients in meatballs and meatloaf. They also thicken soups and stews.
- Fresh bread crumbs are usually made at home from any fresh bread by coarsely grinding it in a blender or food processor. They are used soon after processing to remain soft and not dry out, although they can be frozen in a resealable freezer bag. Fresh bread crumbs can also be seasoned and often top casseroles and gratins.
- Panko bread crumbs are made from crustless white bread. They are large, white, and flaky crumbs. They were originally used in Japanese cooking but have become popular in many cuisines. They have a lighter, crispier texture than other bread crumbs and produce crispier fried foods.
- Breaded foods are foods that are coated in bread crumbs, cracker crumbs, or flour. They are then fried in oil or baked in the oven. Foods that can be breaded with bread crumbs include chicken, fish fillets, hard-boiled eggs in sausage (Scotch eggs), meat cutlets, and vegetables, like eggplant or zucchini.
What is "Gremolata?"
- "Gremolata" (greh-moh-LAH-tah) is an Italian herb condiment or garnish consisting of chopped parsley, garlic, and lemon zest. It traditionally accompanies "osso bucco alla Milanese" (braised veal shank) but also goes with other meats or fish.
- Gremolata and chimichurri (an Argentinian sauce) are similar in that they are both condiments for meat and consist of parsley and garlic; however, gremolata does not include a liquid, whereas chimichurri has both olive oil and vinegar.
Let's Learn About Italy!
- Italy became a unified country in 1861, only 150 years ago. It is sometimes called "bel paese" or "beautiful country."
- Italians invented the piano and the thermometer!
- In ancient Roman mythology, two twin brothers named Romulus and Remus founded Rome, Italy's capital city. The myth says the twins were abandoned and then discovered by a she-wolf before being found and raised by a shepherd and his wife. Eventually (and after many exciting adventures), they found themselves at the location of Palatine Hill, where Romulus built "Roma." The Italian wolf became Italy's unofficial national animal.
- In the 1930s and 40s, Mussolini, Italy's prime minister, and dictator tried to eliminate all foreign words from the Italian language. How did he do that? He just changed them! For example, in soccer, "goal" became "meta." Disney character names changed, too: Donald Duck became "Paperino;" Mickey Mouse became "Topolino;" and Goofy became "Pippo." Although they're not banned anymore, these words and names have stuck. So now if you go to the Italian Disneyland, called Gardaland Park, you will see Topolino and Pippo!
- About 60 million people call Italy home, and it is 116,350 square miles, slightly larger than the US state of Arizona. If you compare that to the United Kingdom, 67 million people live there, and it is about 94,350 square miles. So, the UK is smaller than Italy but has a bigger population!
- The Italian flag is green, white, and red. These colors represent hope, faith, and charity.
- The average Italian eats close to 55 pounds of pasta annually. If you think about how light pasta is, that is a considerable amount! There are more than 500 different types of pasta eaten in Italy today.
What's It Like to Be a Kid in Italy?
- Kids begin school at 6 years old. They grow up speaking Italian, but they learn English in school, so many become bilingual in Italian and English.
- The most popular sport for kids is football (soccer). The Italian word for soccer is "calcio," the same word they use for "kick." A favorite of younger kids is "Rody, the bouncing horse," a plastic horse that a small child can hop onto and bounce around the room. Rody was invented in Italy in 1984.
- The family ("la famiglia") is a central characteristic of Italian life. Children have great respect for their older relatives. It is traditional to name the first male child after the grandfather and the first female child after the grandmother.
- If kids live close to school, they can go home and have lunch with their families! Lunch at school might be pasta, meat with vegetables, a sandwich, or a salad with lots of ingredients. Families typically eat dinner later (7 to 8 pm), so kids end up staying up later, too!
- Between lunch and dinner, kids often enjoy "merenda," which is an afternoon snack that translates to "something that is deserved." It is really a mini-meal that can include both savory and sweet foods. Examples of savory foods are a salami or mortadella sandwich, a slice of rustic bread rubbed with a cut, raw tomato, or "pizza bianca" (white pizza without tomato sauce). Types of sweet foods eaten during merenda are "gelato" (a lower-fat type of ice cream), any kind of cake, or biscotti dipped in warm milk.
Lettuce Joke Around
What did the basil say to the chef?
Stop pesto-ing me!
Lettuce Joke Around
What is a seagull's favorite herb?
BAY-sil!
The Yolk's On You
Today I'll be making fried zucchini slices covered in breadcrumbs.
I've never been covered in breadcrumbs before!
That's Berry Funny
"Knock, knock!
"Who’s there?
"Noah!
"Noah who?
"Noah herb named Basil?
