5 Things you can do with old sourdough bread

Ever had a few random sourdough bread slices laying there, staring you in the eye, and you just don’t know what to do with them? Been there, done that. Here are 5 things you can do with old sourdough bread so you can stop feeling guilty for wasted bread!

Quickest ways to preserve old bread

• Put into a ziplock and throw the slices as is in the freezer.
• Once you have enough to do something with it, defrost over night on the counter, cut into cubes and dry in a slightly warm oven at 110°C for 2-3hours. Tossing every 20min to make sure it dries evenly. Alternatively you can pulse the cubes in a food processor to make bread crumbs and follow the same steps to dry them.
• Once dried, store in an airtight container, or better yet, freeze once again in a ziplock bag ready to use when you need them.

For printable recipes scroll to the bottom of the post.

1/5 Things you can do with old sourdough bread

Bread Porridge

This might surprise you, but sourdough bread crumbs makes the most amazing soft porridge, very filling and satisfying, not at all what you might experience with the conventional box porridges that spike your blood pressure and make you crash in 30min.

If you or your kids prefer something crunchy, use the bread crumbs as a cold porridge with cold milk and sweetener of your choice, we love to use coconut sugar. Add some raisins or frozen blueberries for a sweet burst of flavour.

Ingredients for Bread Porridge

• 2 cups Bread Crumbs
• 2 cups Water
• 2 cups Milk
• 1 tsp Salt
• 1 tsp Cinnamon
• 3/4 cup Raisins/Apples/Blueberries
• Butter, sweetener and milk for serving

Method for Bread Porridge

1. Bring bread crumbs, water, milk, salt and cinnamon to a boil.
2. Turn the heat down to a slow simmer and let the porridge simmer for 15 minutes, stirring and checking that it does not burn.
3. Add water if necessary.
4. Add fruit, stir, turn off the stove and close the lid.
5. Let sit for 5minutes.
6. Serve with a spoon full of butter/peanut butter, sweetener and milk.
7. Enjoy!

2/5 Things you can do with old sourdough bread

Crouton bread salad

Bread salad is a Traditional South African ‘thing’ at bbq’s. There are so many variations to this, so you can really play with ingredients and dressings that you like.

Savoury Mustard and Bacon Crouton Bread Salad Ingredients

FOR THE SALAD

• 4 cups cubed sourdough bread
• cooking oil for deep frying
• 1 cup cubed cheddar cheese
• 1/2 cup pickled cucumber
• 3 eggs, hard boiled and cut into small pieces
• 2 cups Mustard salad dressing
• 1/2 cup crispy bacon cut into small pieces for garnish

FOR THE DRESSING

• 4 eggs
• 4 tbsp Sugar
• 1 tbsp Mustard powder
• 1 1/2 tbsp Water
• 3 1/2 tbsp White vinegar
• 1/2 cup Mayonnaise
• 2 tbsp Cream

Savoury Mustard and Bacon Crouton Bread Salad Method

DRESSING:

1. Beat the eggs until it froths and becomes light in colour.
2. Add sugar a spoon at a time while beating.
3. In a separate bowl mix the mustard and water, then add the vinegar.
4. Slowly drizzle the mustard mixture into the egg mixture while beating.
5. Cook over low heat until it thickens, stirring constantly.
6. If necessary beat with a hand mixer until smooth.
7. Remove from the stove and allow to cool.
8. Add cream and mayonnaise and stir.
9. Ready to use.

FRYING THE BREAD:

1. A good idea is to do this a few hours to one day ahead of the day you want to make the salad so the fried bread can drain as well as possible.
2. 1. Heat cooking oil on the stove to hot.
3. 2. Fry bread cubes until they are golden brown.
4. 3. Drain on paper towels, replacing the towels often to help the cubes drain very well.

SALAD

1. Mix all the ingredients for the salad except the bacon.
2. Add dressing and mix well.
3. Sprinkle crispy bacon bits on top as garnish and serve!

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3/5 Things you can do with old sourdough bread

Spiced Beggars Pudding

Another surprising one. Beggars pudding was very popular in the depression time as it could be made with pantry staples or inexpensive ingredients. It has a wonderful spiced aroma as it bakes and a very satisfying texture and taste with a crunchy, salted buttery crust, soft centre and a sweet current or raisin to surprise you in every other bite. You will not be disappointed to give this recipe a try!

Spiced Beggars Pudding Ingredients

• 4 cups Stale Bread or Dried Croutons
• Hot water to cover bread
• 1/2 cup Currents or raisins
• 1/4 cup Brandy or freshly brewed coffee for an alcohol free version
• 1/4 cup Sugar
• 1 tsp Salt
• 1/2 tsp Ginger
• 1/2 tsp Cinnamon
• 1/4 tsp Nutmeg
• 1/4 cup Butter
• Some sugar to sprinkle on the top

Spiced Beggars Pudding Method

1. Cover stale bread or plain croutons with boiling water and set aside to soak up the water.
2. Mix other ingredients all together in a separate bowl.
3. Mush the bread, squeeze out any excess water and break it into small pieces.
4. Add the rest of the ingredients to the bread and mix it thoroughly.
5. Butter and prepare a pie dish.
6. Add bread mixture into pie dish and smooth the top.
7. Scatter pieces of butter all over the top of the bread pudding.
8. Sprinkle with a thin layer of sugar.
9. Bake at 175°C for 35-45min depending on the size of your pie dish and the thickness of your pudding, until golden brown on top.

4/5 Things you can do with old sourdough bread

Bread crumbs – 4 ways

Bread crumbs are so versatile! Also consider that sourdough breadcrumbs are way superior to normal breadcrumbs as it adds its own depth of flavour to the final dish. Have some waiting for you in your freezer and you can do so many things, let’s look at a few options:

Seasoned breadcrumbs

For coating a fish fillet or make your own restaurant worthy chicken, beef or pork schnitzel.

• To 4 cups dried bread crumbs add:
• 1tsp salt
• 1tsp garlic powder
• 1tsp onion powder
• 2tsp mixed herbs or oregano

Bbq seasoned breadcrumbs

• 4 cups dried bread crumbs
• 1tbsp parsley
• 1tsp salt
• 1/2tsp freshly grind black pepper
• 1/4tsp cayenne
• 1/4 tsp sage
• 1/4tsp onion powder
• 1/4tsp garlic powder
• 1/4tsp nutmeg

Caramel breadcrumbs

For topping muffins or sweet pies:

• 1/2cup bread crumbs
• 1/2cup oats
• 1/2cup flour
• 1/2cup sugar
• 1/2cup melted butter
• 1tsp salt
• 1tsp vanilla

Chocolate (or plain) breadcrumbs for cheesecake bases

• 1cup breadcrumbs
• 1/4cup sugar
• 1/4c melted butter
• 1tbsp cocoa powder (optional for chocolate variation)

5/5 Things you can do with old sourdough bread

Flavoured croutons

Having dried plain croutons at hand makes this super quick and easy to do for a wonderful, crunchy and flavourful topping for any salad. Again you are not bound at all to these herb and spice combinations, this is just one variation on which you can go wild and experiment with flavours that you like.

• 4 cups dried plain croutons or cubed stale bread
• 6 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
• 2 tbsp melted butter
• 2 tbsp minced parsley
• 1tsp garlic powder
• 1tsp Italian seasoning
• 1/2tsp Salt

Add all the ingredients except the bread together and mix well. Now pour over the bread cubes and coat well and evenly. Bake in a preheated oven at 180°C until fragrant, about 5min for pre-dried croutons, up to 15min for stale, just cut croutons.

Keep in an airtight container for up to 10 days.

Yield: 4 Servings

Bread Porridge

Print

Ingredients

• 2 cups Bread Crumbs
• 2 cups Water
• 2 cups Milk
• 1 tsp Salt
• 1 tsp Cinnamon
• 3/4 cup Raisins/Apples/Blueberries
• Butter, sweetener and milk for serving

Instructions

1. Bring bread crumbs, water, milk, salt and cinnamon to a boil.
2. Turn the heat down to a slow simmer and let the porridge simmer for 15 minutes, stirring and checking that it does not burn. Add water if necessary.
3. Add fruit, stir, turn off the stove and close the lid. Let sit for 5minutes.
4. Serve with a spoon full of butter/peanut butter, sweetener and milk.
5. Enjoy!

Spiced Beggars Pudding

Print

Ingredients

• 4 cups Stale Bread or Dried Croutons
• Hot water to cover bread
• 1/2 cup Currents or raisins
• 1/4 cup Brandy or freshly brewed coffee for an alcohol free version
• 1/4 cup Sugar
• 1 tsp Salt
• 1/2 tsp Ginger
• 1/2 tsp Cinnamon
• 1/4 tsp Nutmeg
• 1/4 cup Butter
• Some sugar to sprinkle on the top

Instructions

1. Cover stale bread or plain croutons with boiling water and set aside to soak up the water.
2. Mix other ingredients all together in a separate bowl.
3. Mush the bread, squeeze out any excess water and break it into small pieces.
4. Add the rest of the ingredients to the bread and mix it thoroughly.
5. Butter and prepare a pie dish.
6. Add bread mixture into pie dish and smooth the top.
7. Scatter pieces of butter all over the top of the bread pudding.
8. Sprinkle with a thin layer of sugar.
9. Bake at 175°C for 35-45min depending on the size of your pie dish and the thickness of your pudding.

Notes

- This Spiced Beggars Pudding is a wonderful way to experience some history!

- The true recipe has no amounts and thus you are free to adjust, add and leave out ingredients as you please.

South African Bread Salad

Print

Ingredients

• FOR THE SALAD
• 4 cups cubed sourdough bread
• cooking oil for deep frying
• 1 cup cubed cheddar cheese
• 1/2 cup pickled cucumber
• 3 eggs, hard boiled and cut into small pieces
• 2 cups Mustard salad dressing
• 1/2 cup crispy bacon cut into small pieces for garnish
• FOR THE DRESSING
• 4 eggs
• 4 tbsp Sugar
• 1 tbsp Mustard powder
• 1 1/2 tbsp Water
• 3 1/2 tbsp White vinegar
• 1/2 cup Mayonnaise
• 2 tbsp Cream

Instructions

1. DRESSING: Beat the eggs until it froths and becomes light in colour.
2. Add sugar a spoon at a time while beating.
3. In a separate bowl mix the mustard and water, then add the vinegar.
4. Slowly drizzle the mustard mixture into the egg mixture while beating.
5. Cook over low heat until it thickens, stirring constantly.
6. If necessary beat with a hand mixer until smooth.
7. Remove from the stove and allow to cool.
8. Add cream and mayonnaise and stir.
9. Ready to use.

FRYING THE BREAD:

A good idea is to do this a few hours to one day ahead of the day you want to make the salad so the fried bread can drain as well as possible.

1. Heat cooking oil on the stove to hot.

2. Fry bread cubes until they are golden brown.

3. Drain on paper towels, replacing the towels often to help the cubes drain very well.

SALAD

1. Mix all the ingredients for the salad except the bacon.

2. Add dressing and mix well.

Sprinkle crispy bacon bits on top as garnish and serve!

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My favourite Sourdough gadgets

Cast iron dutch oven

Sourdough kit

Kitchen scale

More Sourdough Recipes You Don’t Want To Miss!

• Easy Sourdough Ciabatta Rolls

• Easy Everyday Sourdough Bread – With A Secret

• Cheesy Cheddar Sourdough Bread

• Sourdough Chocolate Bread With Pecans

• Sweet Sourdough Dinner Rolls or “Boerebeskuit”

• Healthy Sourdough Chocolate Chip Cookies with Oats and Coconut

• How To Open Bake Sourdough Bread

Interesting Further Reading You Might Like

Double Chocolate (Healthy) Baked Cheesecake

Healthy Spiced Milk For Winter