Bread Sauce

Name: Bread Sauce
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 15 min
Total time: 25 min
Cuisine: British (English)
Ingredients: Whole milk — 500 ml (2 cups); Onion, peeled — 1 small; Whole cloves — 6; Bay leaf — 1; Fresh white breadcrumbs — 75 g (1.5 cups); Unsalted butter — 25 g (2 tbsp); Freshly grated nutmeg — 1 pinch; Salt and white pepper — to taste

The Quirky Foodster Team

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10 min

Prep

15 min

Cook

Ingredients

Whole milk — 500 ml (2 cups)
Onion, peeled — 1 small
Whole cloves — 6
Bay leaf — 1
Fresh white breadcrumbs — 75 g (1.5 cups)
Unsalted butter — 25 g (2 tbsp)
Freshly grated nutmeg — 1 pinch
Salt and white pepper — to taste

Method

Stud the onion with cloves and place in a saucepan with milk and bay leaf.
Bring to a bare simmer, then remove from heat and let infuse, covered, for 30 minutes.
Remove onion, cloves and bay leaf from the milk.
Return milk to low heat, whisk in breadcrumbs gradually, and simmer 5-10 minutes, stirring, until thickened to a soft,
spoonable consistency.
Stir in butter and nutmeg, season with salt and white pepper.

Cultural Background: A creamy, spiced sauce thickened with breadcrumbs and infused with clove-studded onion, bread sauce dates to medieval English cookery, when bread was a common thickener before roux-based sauces became widespread, and remains a fixture of the British Christmas roast turkey dinner.

Tips: • Letting the milk infuse with the clove-studded onion for the full 30 minutes is key to the sauce's characteristic warm spice flavour. • Fresh breadcrumbs give a better texture than dried ones, which can make the sauce gluey.

Variations: • Add a splash of cream at the end for extra richness. • Some regional versions add a pinch of mace alongside the nutmeg.

Storage: Refrigerate up to 2 days in an airtight container.

Reheating: Reheat gently over low heat, whisking in a splash of milk to loosen if needed. Nutrition (per serving) Approx. 70 kcal, 2 g protein, 3.5 g fat, 8 g carbohydrate per 60 ml serving.

FAQs: What is bread sauce traditionally served with? Roast turkey and chicken, especially as part of a British Christmas dinner. Can I make it ahead for Christmas dinner? Yes, make it a day ahead and reheat gently, adding a little extra milk to restore the right consistency.