Bread bowl

Bread Bowl

A bread bowl is a type of bread that has been hollowed out to create an edible container. It is commonly used to serve soups, stews, and dips. Bread bowls are a popular choice for serving dishes that benefit from the absorption of flavors by the bread, enhancing the overall dining experience.

Clam chowder in a bread bowl

History

The concept of using bread as a vessel for food dates back centuries. In medieval Europe, trenchers, which were thick slices of stale bread, were used as plates. These trenchers absorbed the juices and flavors of the food placed upon them, and were often consumed after the meal. The modern bread bowl is a more refined version of this concept, designed specifically to hold liquid dishes.

Preparation

Bread bowls are typically made from sourdough, rye, or other sturdy types of bread that can hold their shape when hollowed out. The process involves cutting off the top of the loaf, removing the interior crumb, and leaving a thick crust to form the bowl. The removed bread can be used as a lid or served alongside the dish.

Uses

Bread bowls are versatile and can be used to serve a variety of dishes:

• Soups: Commonly served soups include clam chowder, tomato soup, and broccoli and cheese soup.
• Stews: Hearty stews such as beef stew or chili con carne are often served in bread bowls.
• Dips: Bread bowls can also be used to serve dips like spinach and artichoke dip or cheese fondue.

Porcini mushroom soup in a bread bowl

Variations

Different cultures have their own variations of the bread bowl:

• In Poland, a popular dish is żurek, a sour rye soup often served in a bread bowl.
• In Taiwan, a dish known as "棺材板" (guān cái bǎn), or "coffin bread," is a thick slice of bread hollowed out and filled with a creamy stew.

Coffin bread from Taiwan

Related Pages

• Soup
• Bread
• Sourdough
• Rye bread
• Clam chowder