Homemade Italian-Style Breadcrumbs (using pretzels from your pantry)

I guess if any year was the year to completely clean out my pantry, this was the year.

At the end of 2023 I said we needed to spend less money going out and focus more on using what we already had. I have taken this challenge to heart and with every meal I create, I make it a goal to use SOMETHING, if not multiple somethings, to create the dish I'm dreaming about.

We haven't had breadcrumbs in the house for a while, so I've been borrowing. Or really, just taking. So enough of that, because, last night I was sitting at the computer with my glass of wine thinking what I could do with all of these bags of pretzels that ended up in my snack pantry. A thought struck. I love pretzel buns; actually, they are my preferred bun if I had the option to choose. Why not take these pretzels, grind them up, season them, and turn them into BREADCRUMBS!

You can tell me I'm a genius later. LOL

Taking only 10 minutes between prep and clean-up, these homemade, Italian-style pretzel breadcrumbs were about the easiest damn thing to make. And now I can rest easier knowing yet another thing in my pantry has been used. Or in this case, turned into something new!

Italian-Style Pretzel Breadcrumbs

Ingredients:

• 1 1/2 bags pretzels

• 1 tsp. garlic powder

• 1 tsp. onion powder

• S+P

• 1/2 tsp. rosemary

• 1/2 tsp. thyme

• 1/2 tsp. rubbed sage

• 1/2 tsp. parsley

• 1/2 tsp. basil

• 1/4 tsp. oregano

• 1/4 tsp. marjoram

• 1/8 tsp. lavender (omit if you want, adds a "herbs de provence" feel)

• 1/8 tsp. crushed red chili flakes

• 1/8 tsp. tarragon

Method:

1. Measure out all of your spices and add them to your blender.

2. Blend on high for 30 seconds to a minute.

3. Add the spices to a large bowl and set to the side.

4. Add your pretzels to the blender, in half bag increments (as to not over fill the blender).

5. Blend on low, then slowly increase to high. Blend on high only for 10-15 seconds.

6. Add to the bowl of spices and repeat process until all pretzels are blended.

   1. Tip: if you want a more complex flavor of breadcrumbs, use different types of pretzels if you can.

7. Whisk the pretzels and spices together and voila!

   
   

Now you have your very own homemade breadcrumbs to level-up your next breaded dish with. I am already thinking about what to make with mine. Let me know if you have any ideas of what to make in the comments down below!

Enjoy!