page_title: Crouton
section_title: Etymology
hierarchical_section_title: Crouton / Etymology
context_page_description: A crouton is a piece of sautéed or rebaked bread, often cubed and seasoned. Croutons are used to add texture and flavor to salads—notably the Caesar salad—as an accompaniment to soups and stews, or eaten as a snack food.
context_section_description: The word crouton is derived from the French croûton, itself a diminutive of croûte, meaning "crust". Croutons are often seen in the shape of small cubes, but they can be of any size and shape, up to a very large slice. Many people now use crouton for croute, so the usage has changed. Historically, however, a croute was a slice of a baguette lightly brushed with oil or clarified butter and baked. In French cooking, croûte is not only a noun but also has a verb form which describes the cooking process that transforms the bread into the crust.
caption: Croutons in a bowl.
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