A good salad is all about achieving that perfect balance of flavours and textures, and nothing adds crunch quite like a crouton. You can purchase pre-made croutons pretty easily, but it you want a truly great cube of golden, crispy, just slightly chewy bread, you should make them yourself. They're also dead easy to make.
Croutons are pretty much flawless, but if you're looking to shake up your seasonal soups, consider topping them with that prince of a breakfast item: Granola.
Cacio e pepe (meaning "cheese and pepper") is the simplest of dishes where pasta is tossed with Pecorino Romano, pepper and good olive oil, but there's no reason pasta should have all the fun. By treating croutons with these delicious ingredients, you get a salad that feels more substantial and tastes a bit more decadent.
Making homemade croutons for a salad is usually a process that's easy enough, but you have to fire up the oven to do it. This method from Bon Appetit shows you how to do it on the stove in a fraction of the time, and infuse a ton of herb and garlic flavour.
