Savoury bread pudding

Try our easy savoury bread pudding

This savoury bread pudding is the perfect mixture of a cheesy gratin and a custardy pudding − with a savoury touch. Our recipe is a delightful mix of onions, parsley, ham, and cheese, which bakes into a true delight that will be a hit with kids and adults alike.

It is also known as 'Brotauflauf' in German, and it is traditionally made from stale or leftover bread soaked in a savoury custard mixture of eggs and milk or cream. Baked until it sets into a custard-like consistency, it has savoury ingredients such as cheese, cooked meat such as ham, bacon, or sausages, vegetables such as onions, peppers, or spinach, and herbs for flavour.

We have plenty of other recipes with bread that are baked into a delicious dish like this. For example, our cheesy stuffed bread with garlic butter, aubergine gratin with sourdough crunch, or cheddar and cauliflower gratin. For a sweet dessert, try our bread pudding with apples and raisins or bread pudding with banana and chocolate.

Scrumptious layers of bread, onion, ham, and cheese

Enjoy each layer of our creamy, cheesy bread pudding with a classic ham and cheese combination. The bread layers, enveloped in creamy custard, are soft and delightfully tender. Finely chopped onions are sautéed to a gentle sweetness and layered with ham, adding both a savoury punch and a satisfying chew. The cheese, melted and irresistibly gooey, binds all the layers together, ensuring every bite is moist and flavourful.

Soft and custardy interior with a slight chew

This savoury bread pudding gets the best texture when it bakes and all the ingredients meld together. It has a delightfully soft, custardy interior from the egg and cream mixture with a subtle chewiness from the bread. The ham provides savoury bites that contribute a firm texture that complements the softness of the bread, while the melted cheese introduces pockets of gooey richness. To balance the richness and gooeyness of the pudding, the top achieves a light crispness during baking, creating a perfect contrast to the lush layers beneath.

Serve with simple sides

You can enjoy your savoury bread pudding as a main course or a side dish for any meal, be it breakfast, brunch, lunch, or dinner. Serve it, for example, with a crisp, fresh salad dressed with a light vinaigrette to balance the richness or with roasted or steamed vegetables such as broccoli, carrots, asparagus, or Brussels sprouts with olive oil and herbs.

You can also pair it with soup, grilled chicken, roasted pork, or baked fish. For other side dishes for your bread pudding, serve it with pickles and chutneys to add a tangy element that can enhance the flavours in the pudding and add a pleasant sharpness.

Experiment with the recipe

Experiment with the recipe to explore new textures and flavours. Add fresh herbs like rosemary or thyme to introduce a fragrant note that complements the savouriness. To deepen the aromatic profile, sauté garlic or leeks with the onions, and for a subtle spice that heightens the other flavours, mix a dash of nutmeg or a sprinkle of fresh black pepper into the custard.

If you crave a bit more crunch against the soft pudding, top it with a layer of breadcrumbs or chopped nuts before baking. This will give a delightful, textural contrast that is difficult to resist.