If you’re new to making bread sauce and wondering what it is, it’s a traditional British sauce made from milk, infused with onions and spices, and thickened with breadcrumbs. It’s often enjoyed with a roast dinner and commonly served at Christmas time. Packed full of flavour, with a unique texture, read on for all the tips you need below to get this sauce just right.
Infusing milk and spices for bread sauce
The tastiest bread sauce recipe starts with a base of infused milk. Traditionally, this is done using an onion, bay leaf, cloves and a handful of peppercorns, as in the recipe above. After you’ve warmed it through, you must let it sit before straining, as this helps enhance the flavours.
During the infusion process, it’s important not to rush the heating. Keep it at a low simmer and let the flavours combine. Some chefs will introduce additional spicy elements, such as a grating of nutmeg, to lift the taste profile and add an extra festive touch to the sauce for Christmas Day. Don’t overdo the cloves in the recipe, as too many can make the sauce taste medicinal.
Getting the right texture and consistency
Bread sauce is known for having a silky, thick texture from breadcrumbs and the addition of butter towards the end of cooking. Stirring the butter in cold towards the end helps create a glossy and velvety finish for your sauce.
Add the breadcrumbs gradually to adjust the texture as needed during the cooking process. It’s possible to blend the sauce at the end if you’d like it incredibly smooth, but it’s typically served with more of a rustic feel and a lumpier texture.
If you can, it’s best to use stale white bread. This absorbs better in the liquid and breaks down smoothly to create the desired texture. You only need to use a simple white loaf, as this provides the cleanest flavour for the sauce. However, if you do want to experiment with different flavour profiles, we have a helpful guide covering 15 different types of bread.
Serving, reheating and flavour variations
Bread sauce is usually served in a pouring jug and placed on the table for guests to help themselves. You can also add a final grating of nutmeg to the top of the sauce once it’s in the jug for a festive garnish.
It can be made the day ahead, to save time when you’re hosting friends and family. To reheat, warm through in a saucepan over a low heat. You can add a splash of milk to loosen the sauce as needed.
To vary the flavour, it’s possible to add other elements, such as parmesan cheese, for a creamier taste, or a pinch of lemon zest to brighten the sauce. And now you know how to make bread sauce, explore our guide to 12 classic sauces for more condiment inspiration.
