Bread crumbs, whole wheat
Whole wheat bread crumbs are dried, crushed crumbs made from whole wheat bread instead of white. They carry the same job as any bread crumb, coating and binding and topping, but with a nuttier, more savory flavor and a tan, speckled color from the bran.
Because they are milled from the whole grain, they bring more fiber and a slightly coarser texture. That heartiness suits rustic, savory dishes, where the wheaty taste reads as a feature rather than a flaw.
