Uses for Panko Bread Crumbs

Panko bread crumbs are a Japanese food made from rice or wheat bread without crusts. Panko are often used as a breading for fried foods to give them more crunch than regular bread crumbs. You can find panko in Asian grocery stores or in the Asian food section of your local supermarket.

Breading

Use panko as a breading for meat, fish, poultry, tofu, seitan or vegetables by mixing with seasonings and egg or oil. Panko-breaded foods can be baked or fried.

Thickener

Thicken soups or stews with panko bread crumbs instead of cornstarch or arrowroot to add a hearty texture.

Topping

Add extra crunch to eggplant Parmesan, lasagna, meatloaf or macaroni and cheese by sprinkling panko on top before baking.

Stuffing

Substitute panko in any stuffed vegetable or meat recipe that calls for bread crumbs. Use panko in recipes that call for cubed bread to create a denser stuffing.

Dessert

Chef Michael Chiarello recommends mixing panko with melted butter, sugar and cinnamon and using it as a substitute for the topping on a fruit crisp or cobbler.

References

• 10 Panko Tips

Resources

• Chow: Panko recipes