In UK households, Christmas meals often involve homemade bread sauce. Although you can obtain it in packets, which you just add boiling water to, the best bread sauce recipe ideas provide superior flavour and consistency. For perfect outcomes every time, learn how to make this timeless side dish at home.
Simple bread sauce recipe
Like all traditional British dishes, bread sauce isn't only for Christmas dinners. It can be deployed with any Sunday roast to bulk out the available meat — a handy tip if you have unexpected guests. Ideally suited as an accompaniment to many poultry and turkey recipes, bread sauce also pairs well with duck. Take a look at this recipe for bread sauce and roast duck for some dinner inspiration. In the meantime, learn how to make it by following this simple bread sauce recipe, which you can easily adapt.
Easy step-by-step bread sauce recipe
This bread sauce recipe gives you a basic idea of what to do. Keep in mind that you can alter the seasoning and aromatics to suit individual preferences. To make enough bread sauce for about six to eight people, here's what to do:
- Pour around 600ml of milk into a non-stick saucepan.
- Peel an onion in half and chop it in half.
- Stud the onion half with half a dozen cloves, sticking them in by hand. You can also make little holes to accommodate them with a skewer.
- Place the studded onion into the milk and gently heat the pan so that it takes on the flavour of the onion and aromatic cloves.
- Add a couple of bay leaves for a more refined depth of flavour.
- Don't boil the milk, but allow it to simmer for 15 minutes.
- Meanwhile, remove the crust from 100g of bread and turn it into breadcrumbs, breaking them up by hand.
- Remove the onion, cloves and bay leaves from the milk, then add the breadcrumbs.
- Stir the infused milk and breadcrumbs together for up to 10 minutes, continuing until they thicken and combine with one another.
- Add 30g of butter to enrich the bread sauce recipe and —optionally— add a similar amount of cream for even richer results.
- Season with salt and pepper to taste.
- Remove and serve, adding some ground nutmeg over the top for an attractive-looking and aromatic finish.
A tasty gluten-free bread sauce recipe
If you want a recipe for bread sauce without gluten, then adapt the instructions laid out above with these variations:
- You can use gluten-free bread to make the breadcrumbs, but these won't thicken as effectively. As a result, you can augment them with gluten-free oat flakes, which will help you obtain the right consistency.
- Mashed potato can also serve as a thickening agent, either in place of breadcrumbs altogether or alongside gluten-free ones.
- Use cauliflower instead of breadcrumbs — the best way to do this is to blitz florets in a food processor. This will result in a purée, which you then combine with the infused milk.
How to make breadcrumbs for bread sauce
The simplest way to make breadcrumbs is to simply tear up several slices by hand. This works well if you have stale white bread available to make the sauce. If you plan on making bread sauce in the next few days, save some from a loaf that's not yet finished. That said, you can also make breadcrumbs from fresh bread and rolls.
To do so, place the bread in the oven for 10 minutes on low heat and then break it down with a food processor. Alternatively, grate the bread to break it down into smaller pieces. Grating is a good approach if you want a smooth texture for the bread sauce recipe you're following.
Which other condiments go with the best bread sauce recipes?
When following a bread sauce recipe for a feast, it is worth noting which other condiments go well with turkey, goose and other traditional meats. One is cranberry sauce, which pairs superbly with poultry, game and bread sauce. This fish-based cranberry sauce dish also offers some insights into how else you might use it.
For a more traditional condiment, check out these instructions for holiday season stuffing, which would be tasty with any bread sauce recipe. Bread sauce also tastes great when served with gravy and mustard, as well as roast beef and horseradish sauce.
FAQs
What would you stick into an onion when following a traditional bread sauce recipe?
It is traditional to stick cloves into an onion when following the best bread sauce recipes. This is because cloves yield a warm and aromatic flavour in bread sauce, which is lost without their inclusion.
Is bread sauce made of bread?
Yes, bread sauce is made from bread, commonly stale breadcrumbs. However, there are also gluten-free bread sauce recipes available, which substitute other ingredients for traditional breadcrumbs.
Why is bread sauce traditional at Christmas?
Making bread sauce is a good way to use old bread. It has been served as a traditional side dish for banquets and large meals for centuries. Bread sauce also pairs well with poultry, so it is often paired with traditional Christmas meats, such as turkey or goose.
What is a substitute for bay leaves in bread sauce?
If you don't have any bay leaves for a bread sauce recipe, then use a little sage with parsley instead.
How do you make bread sauce without cloves?
You can make bread sauce without cloves, though it will be a little less aromatic. If you like, substitute the cloves with cinnamon sticks or ground nutmeg.