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Make-ahead bread sauce

Name: Make-ahead bread sauce
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 15 min
Total time: 30 min
Yield: For 8 people
Cuisine: British recipes
Ingredients: Half an onion; 4 cloves; 600ml full-fat milk; 2 fresh bay leaves; 8 black peppercorns; 115g fresh white breadcrumbs; 25g butter; 4 tablespoons crème fraîche

Published: 30 Nov 11
Updated: 18 Mar 24

Give your Christmas meal a lift with this luxury homemade bread sauce. Bay leaves, garlic and onion bring all the flavour – and you can make it up to 24 hours in advance.

Easy
December 2011

Test kitchen approved

For 8 people
Less than 30 minutes

Give your Christmas meal a lift with this luxury homemade bread sauce. Bay leaves, garlic and onion bring all the flavour – and you can make it up to 24 hours in advance.

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Ingredients

Half an onion
4 cloves
600ml full-fat milk
2 fresh bay leaves
8 black peppercorns
115g fresh white breadcrumbs
25g butter
4 tablespoons crème fraîche

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Method

Halve an onion and stud each half with 4 cloves. Put into a pan with 600ml full-fat milk, 2 fresh bay leaves and 8 black peppercorns. Slowly bring to simmering point, remove from the heat and set aside for 1 hour to infuse.
Strain the milk into a clean pan, discarding the solids. Add 115g fresh white breadcrumbs and 25g butter to the pan, bring back to simmering point, stirring, then set aside for 15 minutes to thicken. Reheat just before serving, then stir in 4 tablespoons crème fraîche and season.
Serve hot with a little grated nutmeg on top. This will keep, covered, in the fridge for up to 24 hours.