Repurpose Your Stale Bread Like The Italians

We all know that food is an integral part of Italy’s culture. But did you know that the Italians are firm believers in NOT letting their food go to waste? Now, Italians hold their bread in the highest regard and so it’s no surprise that Italian cuisine is full of wonderfully inventive ways to ensure no bread goes to waste. If you are wondering about what you can make with your leftover Italian breads, here are a few interesting and simple recipes on how to repurpose your leftover Italian bread.

Make a Panini with your Ciabatta

Ciabatta is a chewy bread with a crusty exterior that makes it perfect for grilling. Italians like their paninis crunchy and crispy, and a stale ciabatta is the perfect pick to build that satisfying sandwich. All you have to do is follow a few steps - 

• Drizzle olive oil on one side of the Ciabatta slice and smear our Basil Seed Pesto sauce on the other.

• Layer your favourite ingredients like tomatoes, onions and top it off with cheddar cheese.

• Close the panini with another Ciabatta slice coated with olive oil and Basil Seed Pesto.

• Heat a grill pan over medium flame.

• Place the Panini on the pan and let it cook till the grill marks appear and the cheese has melted.

Add Focaccia to your Panzanella Salad

Focaccia bread tends to dry up when it is a few days old and the Italians have figured out that one of the best ways to deal with leftovers is to whip up a healthy, vibrant salad that appeals to not just an Italian’s stomach but also their heart. Simply follow the steps and prepare the salad of your dreams - 

• Cut your Focaccia bread into cubes.

• Brush some olive oil on the cubes and grill till golden brown.

• In a bowl, add fresh basil and chopped fresh tomatoes.

• Add in crushed garlic and a handful of olives for that extra punch of flavour.

• Top the salad off with grilled focaccia bread cubes.

• Add finishing touches of salt, pepper, balsamic vinegar and extra virgin olive oil.

Give an aromatic garlic flavour to your leftover Sourdough

Old breads tend to get hard over time and this texture can add more dimension to your dish. Once you have the bread, all you need to do is add garlic into the mix to enjoy one of the best lazy-fancy appetisers you have ever consumed, garlic bread. Use our very own Sourdough for this and you have a winner on your hands. While this bread has a longer shelf life than others, the crust of a Sourdough can harden over time, losing that promise of a soft, chewy loaf. Here’s how to make your Sourdough sing.

• Cut the Sourdough into thin slices.

• Lay them alongside each other on a tray.

• Preheat the oven at 180°C for 15 minutes.

• Mince some garlic and mix it into softened butter to make your garlic spread. 

• Sprinkle Italian herbs and seasonings in the garlic spread.

• Smear a generous amount of this mix onto the Sourdough slices.

• Put the tray in a preheated oven and bake the bread at 180°C till golden brown.

Turn your stale bread into Delizioso Croutons

Croutons are truly a godsend! Often used as a topping or ingredient in various dishes, croutons add texture, flavour and visual appeal to salads, soups and even casserole dishes. The best way to make croutons without feeling guilty about the carbs is by using the super seedy multigrain bread, owing to its varied health benefits. Enriched with a variety of grains and millets like pearl millet, red millet, broken wheat and black and white sesame seeds, this bread usually ages quicker than the rest, making it the perfect candidate for homemade croutons! Our favourite way to revive this star bread is by following these simple steps for the crunchiest croutons ever!

• Cut the Multigrain bread into small cubes or pieces.

• Preheat the oven at 180°C for 15 minutes.

• Lay them on a flat tray.

• Brush olive oil or butter on either side.

• Bake them in a preheated oven at 180°C until golden brown.

• Serve with soups, pastas, and salads.

Add a touch of sweetness to old Milk Bread

There is nothing more dolce than ending a heartwarming evening of eating and fun on a sweet note. Italians really enjoy relishing their desserts and often prefer whipping them up for special occasions and milestones. This Bread Pudding recipe is so quick and easy to prepare and enjoy after a wholesome weekday meal. Follow along for a sweet end to your next meal.

• Preheat the oven at 180°C for 15 minutes.

• Grease the baking dish with butter.

• Slice the aged Milk Bread and smear butter on either side.

• Line the buttered bread pieces on the baking dish and sprinkle cinnamon powder and sugar on top.

• Whisk 500 ml of milk and 2 eggs together until well combined.

• Pour the mixture into the baking dish.

• Let it sit for 10 minutes before baking it for 35-40 minutes at 180°C.

• Serve it hot!

Italians hold a special place in their hearts for their handcrafted breads and so do we. And what better way to show your love for food than turning your leftovers into fabulous meal accompaniments and desserts? If you want to enjoy your meals like the Italians do, we are confident that you cannot find a more versatile and delightful range than our selection of Italian handcrafted breads.

So put on your chef’s hat, choose from our Italian loaves online and get cooking! Shop for above Rs. 500/- and get FREE HOME DELIVERY across Mumbai, Delhi and Bangalore. And what more, you ask? If you order before 4 PM, you can also enjoy same-day delivery on some of our products!

You can also follow us on @sorrentina_honestlyitalian to get hold of more things (and recipes) ‘honestly Italian’.