Garlic & Parmesan Croutons
Prep 10 mins, cook time 15 mins.
Ingredients
- 5tbsp butter, melted
- 1tsp grated Parmesan (or any hard cheese)
- 1tsp dried oregano
- ½tsp dried thyme
- ½tsp garlic powder
- ½tsp salt
- 5 thick slices dry bread, cut into cubes
Method
Preheat oven to 160°C. Mix butter, Parmesan, oregano, thyme, garlic powder, and salt together in a large, flat-bottomed bowl.
Add bread cubes and turn with a spatula to coat. Spread coated bread cubes onto a baking sheet and bake until golden brown, 15 to 20 minutes.
Cool croutons completely before storing in an airtight container.
A word on fresh and dried herbs…
Fresh herbs add a wonderful flavour and colour to a dish but can be difficult or expensive to source if you don’t grow your own. Dried herbs are a cheaper and more convenient substitution, but as they are more potent you’ll need to use less. The general rule is a ratio of three to one – if a recipe calls for 1 tablespoon of fresh oregano, you need only 1 teaspoon of dried, since 3 teaspoons equal 1 tablespoon.
Dried herbs work best in foods that need to be cooked, so that they have time to soften and release their oils. Fresh herbs are best in salads and other raw preparations.
If you buy fresh herbs but aren’t going to use them all, chop them up and sprinkle them into ice cube trays. Fill the remaining cube space with water and freeze. Once frozen, place the herbs into a reusable airtight container or bag.
