Bread Puddings: Because stale hot dog buns are a certainty regardless.

[jrshaul]

I recently received about seventy slightly stale hot dog and burger buns. I intended to use them as breadcrumb fodder for meatballs and breading, but the styrofoam consistency of supermarket buns is not so suitable. Instead, I've been making a lot of bread pudding, with very good results. I frequently produce these these for BBQs and such due to the low effort of production, and would be very keen on learning some new variants.

Here's what I've come up with. It's a bit different from the other recipes I've seen due to the bread, but it works well.

- 1.5c whole mik

- 1/4c butter

- 1c + 2tbsp sugar

- 1.5tsp vanilla

- 4 eggs

- About 8 brick-hard hot dog buns (or similar quantity of burger-style equivalent) torn into 2" bits

- Seasoning to taste

Beat eggs. Bring butter, 1c sugar, milk, and vanilla to boil, and slowly pour into eggs while continuously beating. Add buns to custard; allow to sit ten minutes, agitating occasionally, to allow custard to soak in evenly. Bake in 8" round pie plate at 300F (my oven doesn't have a thermometer...) until a fork comes out clean.

This is a pretty standard recipe aside from the modifications to use hot dog buns, but I've had some success recently modifying it for other purposes. Adding a few tablespoons of ground almonds before boiling the milk plus some almond extract produce a very robust almond flavor - the sort of thing I've only seen previously when large quantities of marzipan was used.

[SylviaLovegren]

Substitute brown sugar and add some rum or bourbon, with pecans and raisins.

Substitute some orange juice for the milk and add orange zest, candied orange peel, maybe some Curacao or similar (probably something not blue!).

Or make savory instead, omit sugar and vanilla, add cheese, green onion, crumbled bacon, sausage, cooked vegetables, etc.

Coconut milk and rum with cinnamon and vanilla for a "coquito" bread pudding.

Coconut milk, rum and pineapple for a pina colada pudding.

This is fun!

[jrshaul]

I've never had a savory bread pudding before. Further suggestions?

[SylviaLovegren]

I've never had a savory bread pudding before. Further suggestions?

The ones I've had/made have usually been called "stratas" but they are really just bread pudding made savoury. Here's a bacon, egg and cheese version http://allrecipes.com/recipe/bacon-egg-and-cheese-strata/ which is really typical.

[HungryC]

I live in the land of bread pudding, where it appears on damn near every menu, from cafeterias & greasy spoons to gastronomic temples. You could try what's called "ghetto" bread pudding (sorry if I offend, I'm simply describing a common local useage): a can of fruit cocktail mixed into it before baking. If this is too downmarket for your sensibilities, try rehydrated, chopped dried cherries or currants.

But you should make your life even easier and just beat ingredients (except for the bread) together & not bother with cooking into a custard first. It will set into custard just fine while baking, though it might take a tad bit longer.

Another common variant is to substitute sweetened condensed milk for the sugar.

I like mixing a little stale cake, muffins, or sweet bread with plain bread--stale gingerbread is an especially tasty addition.

[Mark Muller]

I've never had a savory bread pudding before. Further suggestions?

You may have had savory bread pudding before under the names "dressing" or "stuffing", the later often coming out of a turkey at Thanksgiving. Most dressings/stuffings are a bit looser than bread pudding, but not all.

[Darienne]

Mexican Capirotada. We love it. My recipe (as a jump off point): http://patismexicantable.com/2011/11/going-nuts-and-bananas-for-capirotada.html I didn't use prunes, but apples. I didn't use Mexican cheese (can't get it locally) but Cheddar. And don't start with 8 cups of water for the sauce or you'll be there forever waiting for it to reduce.

Good luck.

[jrshaul]

I've never had a savory bread pudding before. Further suggestions?

You may have had savory bread pudding before under the names "dressing" or "stuffing", the later often coming out of a turkey at Thanksgiving. Most dressings/stuffings are a bit looser than bread pudding, but not all.

I think the only place I've seen a dressing or stuffing solid enough to be described a pudding was on Food Network, and the recipe in question was sufficiently bizzaro world that I'm not likely to replicate it. The Capirodata, however, sounds absolutely fabulous.

I'll do another custard with mixed ingredients, but I swear that you get a better texture mixing the two beforehand. It also helps to evenly dissolve the sugar.

Can anyone suggest a binder for a vegan bread pudding? I've had egg-less concoctions, and found them somewhat lacking. Maybe xanthan gum?

Also, gratuitous food porn:

Uploaded with ImageShack.us

[Catherine Iino]

Breathing heavy here.

[stuartlikesstrudel]

I'm with Sylvia in adding in fruit and alcohol flavours.

I haven't tried this yet, but I've read about a raspberry and white chocolate bread pudding which I think would be tasty. Similar to the white choc/raspberry muffins which are very popular (in australia at least!). You could also try chunks of milk or dark chocolate I bet, with appropriate fruits or nuts added. A dark chocolate and cherry pudding would probably be delicious!

[Pierogi]

I love savory bread puddings, even though I'm not a huge fan of the sweet ones ! Although, I have to say, I usually make my savory ones with bread that has more character than hot dog buns.....

I make one that has thin-sliced fennel bulbs and sweet Italian sausage (with fennel seeds, of course). I think it also takes some Parmesan. The flavors on that are spectacular. I *believe*, with as much confidence as my sketchy memory will allow, it was a recipe I found in the LA Times several years back. I think I have another one with grapes(?) and prosciutto. I've been meaning to make both of them again, especially the fennel/sausage version, because I liked it so much.

[Mjx]

. . . .

Can anyone suggest a binder for a vegan bread pudding? I've had egg-less concoctions, and found them somewhat lacking. Maybe xanthan gum?

. . . .

Xanthan gum might do it, although I don't know how pleasant the texture would be, but before you start looking into this, check the ingredient list on those hot dog buns, if you're planning on using them; they often contain eggs/dairy.

[Darienne]

I love savory bread puddings, even though I'm not a huge fan of the sweet ones ! Although, I have to say, I usually make my savory ones with bread that has more character than hot dog buns.....

Hmmm...yes the taste and texture of the hot dog bun leaves a lot to be desired.

I have made a wonderful breakfast savory bread pudding. I'll look for the recipe. I think it came from Smitten Kitchen.

http://smittenkitchen.com/2006/12/new-years-day-2001/ Boozy baked french toast

Edited June 21, 2012 by Darienne (log)

[SylviaLovegren]

I've never had a savory bread pudding before. Further suggestions?

You may have had savory bread pudding before under the names "dressing" or "stuffing", the later often coming out of a turkey at Thanksgiving. Most dressings/stuffings are a bit looser than bread pudding, but not all.

I think the only place I've seen a dressing or stuffing solid enough to be described a pudding was on Food Network, and the recipe in question was sufficiently bizzaro world that I'm not likely to replicate it. The Capirodata, however, sounds absolutely fabulous.

I'll do another custard with mixed ingredients, but I swear that you get a better texture mixing the two beforehand. It also helps to evenly dissolve the sugar.

Can anyone suggest a binder for a vegan bread pudding? I've had egg-less concoctions, and found them somewhat lacking. Maybe xanthan gum?

Also, gratuitous food porn:

Uploaded with ImageShack.us

Oh my. Look what happens to hot dog buns when they get reincarnated!

[Margaret Pilgrim]

Try this "panade" from Judy Rogers' Zuni Cafe: http://www.food.com/recipe/chard-onion-gruy-re-panade-bread-casserole-368749

[jrshaul]

Oh my. Look what happens to hot dog buns when they get reincarnated!

When life gives you lemons, you make lemonade. When life gives you hot dog buns, and you decided to take summer classes instead of getting a job...