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Delia Smith Bread Sauce Recipe

Delia Smith Bread Sauce Recipe

Delia Smith's bread sauce recipe is rich, gently spiced and properly comforting. The traditional accompaniment to roast turkey.
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Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Infusing Time 30 minutes
Total Time 50 minutes
Course: Side Dish
Cuisine: British
Calories: 115
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

  • 500 ml whole milk
  • 1 onion peeled and halved
  • 6 whole cloves
  • 1 bay leaf
  • 100 g fresh white breadcrumbs
  • 25 g unsalted butter
  • 2 tbsp double cream
  • Salt and freshly ground black pepper
  • A pinch of freshly grated nutmeg

Method
 

  1. Press cloves into the halved onion.
  2. Heat the milk with the onion and bay leaf until just steaming.
  3. Remove from heat, cover, and infuse for at least 30 minutes.
  4. Strain the milk, discarding onion and bay leaf.
  5. Stir in the breadcrumbs.
  6. Simmer gently for 8–10 minutes until thickened, stirring regularly.
  7. Stir in butter and cream.
  8. Season with salt, pepper and nutmeg.

Notes

Don't rush the infusing time — it's where most of the flavour comes from.
Use fresh breadcrumbs rather than dried for the smoothest texture.
The infused milk can be made a day ahead and kept in the fridge.
Thickens further as it cools, so loosen with extra milk if needed before serving.
Freezes reasonably well for up to 2 months.