Panko Bread Crumbs: Convenient and Versatile

Have you made the switch from using regular bread crumbs to panko bread crumbs for your recipes, whether it be for breading meat, fish or chicken, or for a recipe when it calls for bread crumbs, or even for topping a potato or casserole dish?

If not, you might like to try them to see if you like the difference they make.

What makes panko different?

Panko is a variety of flaky bread crumbs made from bread without crusts. The texture is crispier and airier. It was first used in Japanese cuisine but has become popular in Western cuisine as well.

I have been buying Ian's Panko Breadcrumbs (original, Italian or whole wheat) at a Fresh and Natural grocery store, and I have also purchased Progresso Panko Crisp Bread Crumbs at the regular market where I shop. I keep them in the freezer once they are opened to retain freshness.

The panko bread crumbs are more costly than the regular breadcrumbs that can be purchased, but I have found them more to my liking for my cooking purposes.

I did discover a recipe for Homemade Panko Bread Crumbs at recipezaar.com (click here) that I plan to try when my freezer supply is gone. It sounds like it would be a money saver and would produce the type of results that I like from using lighter-textured crumbs.

My lazy method for breading foods

My true confession: I have become a rather lazy cook! I love the texture and flavor that breading brings to meat, fish or chicken but I dislike the whole process of flour, egg, dipping, coating, etc.

My solution is to just use a nonstick frying pan and a splatter guard over that during the frying process. I cut boneless chicken breasts in half the long way (butterflied), for thinner and faster-cooking chicken. I splash some cooking olive oil in my pan and let that heat, then add the chicken. I cook the chicken on each side for several minutes, then add whatever seasoning I want to use that day. I usually sprinkle some dried minced onion into the olive oil around the chicken. For sure I put plenty of dried parsley on each side; I love to use parsley whenever I can.

When the chicken is about done (doesn't take but maybe 5 minutes or so total so don't overcook) I dump on some bread crumbs, usually half and half regular and Italian, turning and adding bread crumbs to the other side. If there isn't enough olive oil in the pan to soak up the crumbs I just splash in some more. I use a spatula to scoop up the excess crumbs, onion etc. over the chicken.

This makes a tasty sandwich when topped with some mayo or whatever you like (I prefer the flavor of ranch dressing on mine). If I have some lettuce, that is good. The crumbs are crumby and a bit messier than the normal chicken fillet sandwich, but I frankly don't give a "darn" as Rhett Butler might almost say.

Sometimes I do this with fish, which cooks quickly, splashing some lemon juice on it in the pan, and most often going with lemon pepper seasoning on my fish. The crumbs add some texture and flavor, and cooking with olive oil is a healthful way to prepare food. Shrimp is good this way, and even plain old hamburger patties taste good with some breading and seasonings before popping them in a bun for serving.

My whole meal preparation time for either an entrée or a sandwich is probably only ten minutes, and all I have to wash is a nonstick pan and my splatter guard. I vary the seasonings, sandwich toppings and maybe even add cheese - whatever suits my mood that day. The flavor combinations are endless. This is so much easier than going to a fast-food place for a burger, chicken fillet or fish sandwich, and saves money besides.

So, my next step is to try the recipe for homemade panko bread crumbs. My sandwich or entrée will be really low in cost if I do that! Bon appétit!

For more articles by this writer, click here.

These articles by R.C. Johnson may be of special interest:

Nineteen Recipes for Chocolate-Dipped Strawberries, Courtesy of the Internet, published 2/09/10
How to Simplify the Process for Making Cookie Dough, published 12/14/09

Sources:
wikipedia.org, Panko
recipezaar.com, Home Made Panko Bread Crumbs