Recipe: Smoked Salmon Pita Croutons

Recipe Source: Lawson, Jane.  The Spice Bible.  Stewart, Tabori & Chang, New York, 2008 p. 300

I made these croutons as part of another recipe, but as I was making them it occurred to me that they wouldn't just be good in the one soup I was making.  They're a great way to use up leftover pita bread and would match well in any number of mildly-flavored soups.  I decided to post them, and the horseradish cream that gets used in the same soup, as separate recipes to make it easier for you to mix and match.  (You'll see the soup and the horseradish cream at a later date.) 

The original recipe called for a loaf of day-old white bread.  Good bread doesn't last so long in this house, and I forgot to pick up a loaf of commercial bread when I did the shopping.  I did, however, have some pita left over from the cucumber appetizer I'd made the night before.  Using the pita cut down on waste, saved me some money and cut down on the amount of time needed to make the croutons.  In essence, I guess, you're making pita chips with a little bit of smoked salmon on them.  I will admit to sampling more than one of the little croutons as is, and they would make a fine party hors d'oeuvre if you did something a little prettier with them than I did!

Smoked Salmon Pita Croutons (makes 26; approx. $0.30/ea)

1 store-bought pita bread, separated and cut into pieces

2 tablespoons butter

3 garlic cloves, crushed

4 ounces (approx.) smoked salmon

Equipment:

• Baking sheet
• Small saucepan
• Pastry brush

1. Preheat your oven to 300 degrees. 
2. Combine the butter and garlic in the small saucepan.  Melt the butter over low heat.
3. Brush a small amount of the butter and garlic mixture over the pieces of pita on the baking sheet.
4. Bake 10 minutes or so, until golden.  Watch carefully so they don't burn.
5. Remove from oven and cool.
6. Meanwhile cut the salmon into pieces approximately the same size and shape as the pita pieces.  Place them on top of the pitas. 
7. Serve. 

Comments

[online consultation]

A very healthy recipe thanks.

[Reeni]

What a unique recipe! I bet it's delicious!

[Fearless Kitchen]

Reeni - Thanks! I have to admit that more than one of these fell victim to "taste testing..."

Online - You're welcome :)

[Affiliate Program]

Thanks for giving this very tasty and delicious recipes. I'll try this as soon as arrived home.

[Fearless Kitchen]

Affiliate - Thank you.