Croutons are an important element in many soups and salads and, in some cases, such as split pea soup or Caesar salad, I consider them to be an integral part of the recipe.
Preheat the oven to 230°C (450°F/Gas 8). In a bowl, mix together the cubes of stale bread with the other ingredients. Spread them out on a baking tray and bake for about 10 min