Bread Sauce with Clove-Studded Onion

Inspired by techniques from NYT Cooking.

Bread sauce · British

A gentle, creamy sauce made by infusing milk with onion and clove before thickening it with breadcrumbs and butter.

Prep10 min
Cook30 min
Total40 min
DifficultyEasy
Per serving134 kcal
FreeSource of proteinVegetarian
Servings6Recipe makes 6
Allergens (EU 14)
GlutenCrustaceansEggsFishPeanutsSoybeansMilkTree nutsCeleryMustardSesameSulphitesLupinMolluscs

Always check the labels of the products you use.

Method

  1. 1

    Stud. Stud the onion with the cloves and tie the bay leaf, thyme and parsley stalks together with string.

  2. 2

    Infuse. Put the onion, herbs, 480 ml milk, salt and pepper in a saucepan, bring to just below a simmer, then keep on the lowest heat for 20 min without boiling.

  3. 3

    Strain. Lift out the onion and herbs.

  4. 4

    Thicken. Stir in 60 g breadcrumbs and the nutmeg and cook on very low, stirring, until thick and creamy, 5-8 min, loosening with a little milk or adding more crumbs as needed.

  5. 5

    Enrich. Off the heat, stir in 30 g butter.

  6. 6

    Serve. Spoon into a warm bowl, sprinkle with cayenne and parsley, and garnish with a bay leaf and a few cloves not to be eaten, then serve warm.

Storage

Best served warm straight away, though it can be covered and gently reheated, loosening with a little milk if it has thickened on standing. Cool leftovers in a shallow container and refrigerate within 2 hours (within 1 hour on a day above 32°C).

EU nutrition claims

  • Source of protein: 3.1 g protein per 100 kcal, about 13% of energy (needs ≥ 12%)

Per serving, from the nutrition table. Condition from the Annex to EU Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006. How we decide

Free sugars

Sugar (daily guide)

0.6 g per serving

1.2 % of the 50 g daily maximum · 2.4 % of the ideal 25 g

Free sugars under 50 g a day, ideally about 25 g, based on WHO free-sugar guidance (not endorsed by WHO). The share shown is the share of one serving. WHO

Equipment

  • small saucepan
  • kitchen string
  • slotted spoon
  • wooden spoon
  • warm serving bowl or sauce boat

Nutrition per serving (estimated values)

Per servingAmount
Energy134 kcal
Protein4.2 g
Carbohydrate13 g
of which sugars5.5 g
of which free sugars0.6 g
Fat7.3 g
of which saturates4.2 g
Fibre0.9 g
Salt0.76 g

Protein per 100 kcal

3.1 g High Protein needs ≥ 5 g (20% of energy)

Calculated from USDA FoodData Central ingredient values