Crouton Substitute

With all the salads I've been eating I've been missing crunchy croutons.  As many are are packed with calories, I've substituted one hard pretzel.  I chop up the pretzel and toss it with the salad after the dressing/olive oil/or lemon juice has been added.  It soaks up a lot a flavor and it is delicious.  If you can spare the extra 100 calories, I think it is worth it!

Try all bran fiber cereal.  the kind that looks like rabbit food.  It is slightly sweet with out the milk. It adds the crunch you are missing and has added fiber.  I actually by stop & shop brand but they both only have 50 calories for 1/2 a cup.  (I only use maybe 1/4c) 

Put a low carb whole wheat wrap in the oven to toast it up. it gets nutty tasting and crispy so you can break it up. 

Or eat your salad in the wrap. 

There not crunchy...but ever since I started putting chickpeas in my salads I don't even miss croutons.  I would chose beans of croutons now any old time! :-)

well i might be wrong but croutons are basically stale bread cooked in olive oil, so just get rid of the olive oil and try toasting some stale bread, by stale i mean a day or two old when its hard, sorry if this advice seems odd,

unouno

The croutons I eat are only 30 calories for 5, so I normally have 10. I also sometimes use these crispy onions they sell with the salad crap near the lettuce. I think they're maybe 25 calories for 2 tbsp, and they're really good too.

Thanks for all your great tips, ladies!

The pretzels are a great idea! I'll have to give them a try. 

I have another yummy substitute for croutons- but it comes with a disclaimer. I don't like to completely eliminate foods,  I do this in moderation.

This is crispy cheese invention is an Italian dish called Frico- great on a Caesar Salad and offers up more protein than croutons. Plus it looks really pretty in a salad when you have company over! Obviously, it replaces any other cheese on the salad. Be sure to really soak up any of the released oil with a paper towel before serving.

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Line a cookie sheet with parchment. Drop level tablespoons fresh shredded parmesan 3 inches apart onto cookie sheet; spread to form 2-inch rounds.

2. Bake until edges just begin to color, 6 to 7 minutes. Transfer crisps, still on parchment, to wire rack; cool 2 minutes. Transfer to paper towels to drain. Repeat with remaining Parmesan.

Each crisp: About 25 calories, 3g protein, 0g carbohydrate, 2g total fat (1g saturated), 5mg cholesterol, 114mg sodium.

 

 

 

Great idea, destroyrebuild!   I've seen these lacy cheese discs and I will definitely give it a try.  Thanks.

Original Post by k-loo:

There not crunchy...but ever since I started putting chickpeas in my salads I don't even miss croutons.  I would chose beans of croutons now any old time! :-)

 You can bake chickpeas in the oven and it makes them really crispy and delicious! I always put them in my salad now...makes a great high protein substitue for croutons.

http://caloriecount.about.com/roasted-chickpe as-recipe-r186285