Quick & Perfect Jamie Oliver Bread Sauce Recipe for Cozy Meals

Jamie Oliver’s bread sauce transforms ordinary ingredients into a culinary masterpiece that elevates any festive meal.

Rich, creamy textures mingle with aromatic spices, creating a luxurious accompaniment that feels both nostalgic and innovative.

Traditional British comfort food rarely looks this elegant or tastes this sophisticated.

Warm milk infused with delicate herbs provides the foundation for this silky-smooth sauce.

Humble breadcrumbs become something extraordinary through careful technique and thoughtful seasoning.

Home cooks can easily replicate this restaurant-quality condiment with basic kitchen staples.

Professional chefs and passionate amateurs appreciate how simple ingredients can create something truly magical: prepare to be impressed.

Why Jamie Oliver’s Corn Bread Is a Crowd-Pleaser

• Infuse Flavor Magically: Clove-studded onions and nutmeg transform ordinary milk into a stunning sauce that bursts with rich, aromatic flavors perfect for traditional holiday meals.
• Super Simple Culinary Technique: Bread sauce requires minimal cooking skills, making it an approachable recipe for home cooks wanting to create restaurant-quality accompaniments without complex preparation methods.
• Versatile Comfort Companion: This smooth, creamy sauce complements roasted meats beautifully, especially turkey and chicken, adding luxurious texture and warmth to classic festive dishes with minimal effort.
• Make-Ahead Meal Miracle: Prepare this sauce days in advance and store in the refrigerator, allowing flavors to develop and reducing kitchen stress during busy holiday cooking times.

Ingredients for Jamie’s Classic Corn Bread

• Onion: A key flavor component with whole cloves studded into its surface for a rich, aromatic base.
• Milk: The primary liquid that carries and blends all the delicate sauce flavors.
• Bay Leaves: Provides a subtle herbal undertone to enhance the sauce's depth.

• Sea Salt: Helps balance and elevate the overall taste profile.
• Black Pepper: Adds a gentle warmth and subtle spiciness to the sauce.
• Nutmeg: Offers a warm, slightly sweet background note with complex aromatics.

• Ciabatta Loaves: Serves as the primary thickening agent to create a smooth, creamy texture.
• Butter: Adds richness and a luxurious mouthfeel to the sauce.
• Cream: Contributes to the sauce's silky consistency and provides additional depth.

How to Bake Corn Bread That’s Moist and Fluffy

Step 1: Prepare the Aromatic Onion

Remove the onion’s skin while keeping it whole. Stud the onion with whole cloves, creating a fragrant base for the sauce.

Step 2: Create the Flavor Infusion

• Clove-studded onion
• Bay leaves
• Milk
• Sea salt
• Black pepper
• Freshly grated nutmeg (2-3 light scrapings)

Step 3: Gentle Heating Process

Carefully heat the mixture, watching closely to prevent boiling over. Bring to a gentle simmer over low heat for 5 minutes, allowing flavors to meld together.

Step 4: Steep and Rest

Remove from heat and let the mixture steep for 15 minutes, allowing the spices to fully infuse the milk.

Step 5: Prepare Breadcrumbs

Take 1.5 ciabatta loaves and remove the crusts. Use a food processor to pulse the bread into coarse breadcrumbs.

Step 6: Strain the Milk

Strain the infused milk through a fine-mesh sieve into a clean jug, removing the solids.

Step 7: Incorporate Breadcrumbs

Return the strained milk to the pan. Bring to a gentle boil, then reduce heat to medium. Slowly stir in the breadcrumbs, allowing them to dissolve completely.

Step 8: Finish the Sauce

• Butter
• Cream

Taste and adjust seasoning with additional salt and pepper as needed.

Step 9: Adjust Consistency

Check the sauce’s thickness. If too thin, add more breadcrumbs. If too thick, incorporate a splash of milk.

Step 10: Prepare for Serving

Transfer the sauce to a serving bowl. Allow to cool to room temperature.

Step 11: Storage Tip

If preparing in advance, store in the refrigerator. The sauce will naturally thicken as it cools. When ready to serve, gently reheat and adjust consistency with a little milk if needed.

Tips for the Best Corn Bread Texture

• Infuse Deeply: Remove cloves before serving to prevent unexpected bites.
• Balance Smoothly: Warm milk gently to prevent scorching and ensure silky consistency.
• Customize Wisely: Switch white bread for sourdough or gluten-free options without compromising texture.
• Elevate Quickly: Grate fresh nutmeg instead of using pre-ground for brighter, more intense flavor.
• Store Smartly: Keep sauce in an airtight container for up to three days, reheating slowly to maintain creamy texture.

Store Jamie Oliver’s Corn Bread the Right Way

• Freezer Preservation: Seal completely cooled bread sauce in heavy-duty freezer bags or rigid containers, removing all air pockets to prevent freezer burn. Portion into smaller quantities for convenient future use, enabling quick defrosting without waste.
• Refrigeration Technique: Transfer bread sauce to glass containers with tight-fitting lids, ensuring minimal air exposure. Smooth the surface and press plastic wrap directly against the sauce to prevent skin formation and maintain optimal texture.
• Temperature Control: Monitor sauce temperature during storage, keeping it consistently below 40°F (4°C) to prevent bacterial growth. Always use clean utensils when handling to minimize contamination risks and extend overall storage life.

Corn Bread Variations to Try at Home

• Herb-Infused Elegance: Replace bay leaves with fresh rosemary and thyme for an aromatic herbal version that elevates the bread sauce's traditional profile.
• Spicy Mediterranean Kick: Add roasted red pepper flakes and a touch of smoked paprika to introduce a warm, vibrant flavor that complements roasted meats.
• Garlic Lovers' Dream: Roast two whole garlic cloves alongside the clove-studded onion to create a deeper, more complex savory undertone in the sauce.
• Cheese Lover's Remix: Grate parmesan or pecorino romano into the final mixture, creating a rich and creamy texture with a sharp, sophisticated cheese note.

Sweet and Savory Wrap-Up for Corn Bread

Jamie Oliver’s bread sauce whispers culinary magic from British kitchens, transforming simple ingredients into a luxurious accompaniment.

Rich milk-infused traditions meld with delicate spices, creating nostalgic memories on festive plates.

Clove-studded onions release subtle aromatics that dance through warm milk, promising comfort in each spoonful.

Ciabatta breadcrumbs provide silky texture, blending seamlessly with cream and butter’s indulgent embrace.

Nutmeg’s gentle warmth lingers, completing this classic sauce’s sensory symphony.

Jamie Oliver Bread Sauce Recipe

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4.9 from 19 reviews

• Total Time: 40 minutes
• Yield: 6 1x

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Description

Jamie Oliver’s bread sauce elegantly blends British culinary tradition with creamy comfort. Warm milk infused with aromatic spices creates a luxurious accompaniment that elevates your holiday roast to sublime heights.

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Ingredients

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Main Ingredients:

• 2 loaves of ready-to-bake ciabatta
• 700 milliliters (24 fluid ounces) whole milk
• 30 grams (1 ounce) unsalted butter

Flavor Enhancers:

• 1 onion
• 4 cloves
• 2 fresh bay leaves
• 1 whole nutmeg, for grating

Finishing Ingredients:

• 4 tablespoons double cream

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Instructions

1. Prepare the onion by carefully removing its skin while maintaining its whole shape, then strategically insert whole cloves throughout its surface.
2. Transfer the studded onion into a medium saucepan, adding bay leaves, whole milk (946 milliliters / 32 fluid ounces), sea salt, freshly ground black pepper, and delicately grate a small amount of nutmeg.
3. Position the saucepan over low heat, monitoring closely as the milk gradually approaches a gentle simmer to prevent rapid boiling or scorching.
4. Allow the mixture to infuse for approximately 15 minutes, maintaining a subtle warmth that extracts the aromatic flavors from the spices and onion.
5. Strain the infused milk through a fine-mesh sieve, capturing the liquid in a clean pitcher while discarding the solids.
6. Slice off the crusts from ciabatta loaves, then transform the bread into coarse breadcrumbs using a food processor.
7. Return the strained milk to the saucepan over medium heat, gradually incorporating the breadcrumbs and stirring consistently until completely dissolved.
8. Introduce unsalted butter and heavy cream into the mixture, whisking thoroughly to create a smooth, consistent texture.
9. Assess the sauce’s consistency, adjusting as needed by adding additional breadcrumbs to thicken or a small amount of milk to thin.
10. Taste and season with extra salt and pepper according to preference, ensuring a balanced flavor profile.
11. Transfer the sauce to a serving container, allowing it to cool to room temperature before refrigerating if preparing in advance.

Notes

• Enhance depth by piercing whole onion with fragrant cloves, releasing subtle warmth throughout the dish.
• Experiment with breadcrumb quantities to achieve perfectly balanced texture, from crispy to tender.
• Transform ordinary ingredients into luxurious comfort food by folding in velvety butter and silky cream.
• Weekend meal prep becomes a breeze with this make-ahead recipe that develops more intense flavors overnight in the refrigerator.

• Prep Time: 15 minutes
• Cook Time: 25 minutes
• Category: Dinner, Appetizer
• Method: Simmering
• Cuisine: British

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 6
• Calories: 335 kcal
• Sugar: 5 g
• Sodium: 200 mg
• Fat: 17 g
• Saturated Fat: 10 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 7 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 37 g
• Fiber: 2 g
• Protein: 9 g
• Cholesterol: 45 mg