Traditional Bread Sauce Recipe

The British Classic That Divides Opinion (and Completes a Roast)

There are some British foods that quietly sit on the sidelines until you grow up, then suddenly you wonder how you ever lived without them. Bread sauce feels like one of those.

Soft, creamy, gently spiced, and unapologetically old-fashioned, bread sauce has been part of British roast dinners for centuries. Especially at Christmas, where it earns its place next to roast turkey, gravy, stuffing, and pigs in blankets.

To the uninitiated, it can sound odd. Bread in sauce form? Warm milk? Cloves?
To those who know, it is pure comfort.

What Is Bread Sauce?

Bread sauce is a traditional British white sauce made from milk infused with onion, cloves, and bay, thickened with fresh breadcrumbs, then finished with butter and nutmeg.

It is not meant to be bold or punchy. It is gentle, warming, and quietly savoury. Think of it as the calm, reassuring presence on a very busy plate.

Historically, bread sauce dates back to medieval England, when breadcrumbs were commonly used to thicken sauces long before flour-based roux became standard. Versions of it appear in British cookery books from the 18th and 19th centuries, often served with poultry.

Today, it remains a fixture of Christmas dinner tables across the UK.

Why Brits Love Bread Sauce

Bread sauce is about balance.

• It softens rich meats like turkey or roast chicken

• It adds warmth without overpowering

• It brings nostalgia in every spoonful

For many Brits, it is not optional. It is tradition.

Ask ten people how they like their bread sauce and you will get ten answers. Thicker. Thinner. Extra nutmeg. No bay. Lots of pepper. Family recipes run deep here.

Traditional Bread Sauce Recipe

This version is inspired by classic British methods and is a favourite in our house.

Ingredients

• 1 pint whole milk

• 1 small onion

• 12 whole cloves

• 1 bay leaf

• 100g fresh white breadcrumbs

• 30g butter

• Freshly grated nutmeg - lots!

• Salt and white pepper, to taste

Method

1. Pour the milk into a saucepan. Peel the onion, stud it with the cloves, and add it to the pan along with the bay leaf.

2. Slowly bring the milk just up to a simmer, then remove from the heat. Cover and leave to infuse for around 30 minutes.

3. Remove and discard the onion, cloves, and bay leaf.

4. Return the milk to a gentle heat and stir in the breadcrumbs. Cook slowly, stirring often, until the sauce thickens to a soft, creamy consistency.

5. Stir in the butter and a very generous grating of nutmeg. Season with a little salt and white pepper to taste.

6. Serve warm.

Cook’s Tip

Using 100g of breadcrumbs gives a thicker, more comforting texture. If it becomes too thick, simply loosen with a splash of warm milk.

What Do You Serve Bread Sauce With?

Traditionally:

• Roast turkey

• Roast chicken

• Stuffing and gravy

• Pigs in blankets

But it is just as good alongside:

• Roast pork

• Leftover cold cuts

• Inside a festive sandwich the next day!

Some people even spoon it onto roast potatoes. We are not here to judge.

Bread Sauce for our American Readers

If you are new to British food, bread sauce can feel unexpected. But think of it less as a sauce and more as a soft, savoury accompaniment. It plays the same role as mashed potatoes or stuffing, not gravy.

Once you try it, it makes sense.

FAQ: Bread Sauce Explained

Is bread sauce sweet or savoury?
Savoury, with gentle warmth from nutmeg and cloves.

Is bread sauce served hot or cold?
Always warm.

Can I make bread sauce ahead of time?
Yes. Reheat gently with a little extra milk, stirring often.

Is bread sauce only for Christmas?
Traditionally yes, but there are no rules. A roast is a roast.

A Proper British Table Starts Here

Bread sauce is one of those dishes that reminds you British food is not about flash. It is about comfort, tradition, and getting the details right.

If you are building a proper British roast, it deserves a place on the table. Alongside good gravy, quality meat, and the sides that make it feel like home.

And if you are missing those flavours, you know where to find them.