Buttery garlic croutons

Buttery garlic croutons are small pieces of bread fried or pan-toasted in butter and seasoned with garlic, commonly used to add a crunchy texture and an intense flavor to numerous dishes. This ingredient is very popular in Spanish-speaking cuisines, especially in recipes for soups, salads, and creams, where the croutons serve as a complement that enhances the flavor and provides contrast.

The origin of croutons dates back to the European tradition of utilizing stale bread, which is cut into cubes and fried or toasted to avoid waste and create a delicious accompaniment. The variant with butter and garlic adds an aromatic and creamy touch, derived from the use of ingredients typical of Mediterranean and Latin American cuisines.

Among their properties, buttery garlic croutons provide a crunchy texture and a combined flavor of rich butter and fragrant garlic. Although they are a caloric ingredient due to the use of butter and fried bread, they are used in small quantities to add flavor and body to preparations.

Regarding synonyms that can be found in different regions of Latin America, croutons are also known as: croutons (mostly in Mexico and some South American countries), pan-fried toast, fried toasted bread, or simply garlic fried bread. However, the term "picatostes" is perhaps the most universally understandable in the culinary context to refer to these flavored, golden bread pieces.