Recipes

Pangrattato is a simple, thrifty Italian condiment of golden, crisp toasted breadcrumbs, often flavored with garlic, herbs, and olive oil, used to add texture and flavor to pasta, soups, and vegetables.

A quintessential Italian antipasto of rustic grilled bread, Bruschetta is sliced bread that is traditionally rubbed with garlic and drizzled with olive oil, then topped with a vibrant mixture of fresh tomatoes, basil, and spices.

Panzanella is a vibrant Tuscan bread salad that ingeniously revives stale bread by soaking it in dressing and tossing it with ripe tomatoes, cucumbers, red onion, and fresh basil.

Frittata di Pane is a classic Sicilian dish that transforms stale bread into a savory, oven-baked omelette bound with eggs and enriched with cheese.

Pane Frattau is a traditional Sardinian dish that layers sheets of crispy, thin pane carasau bread with a savory tomato sauce, pecorino cheese, and a poached egg.

Acquacotta is a historic soup from the Maremma, a former marshland region spanning southern Tuscany and northern Lazio, originally prepared by shepherds and hunters.

Ribollita is a hearty, twice-boiled Tuscan soup that transforms cannellini beans, seasonal vegetables, and copious amounts of stale bread into a thick, restorative stew.

Sopa Coada is a historic, layered "buried soup" from Treviso, featuring pigeon, vegetables, and stale bread cooked slowly under a crust of Grana Padano cheese.

Panada is a simple, ancient Venetian restorative soup made by slowly cooking stale bread into a creamy, savory porridge with broth, often enriched with Parmesan cheese.

Garmugia is a traditional spring soup from Lucca, Tuscany, featuring a vibrant stew of fresh artichokes, fava beans, asparagus, peas, and ground meat, served poured over slices of toasted or stale bread.

Zuppa alla canavesana is a robust, layered Piedmontese soup that bakes savoy cabbage, stale bread, and a rich beef broth into a savory, set casserole.

Passatelli en Brodo is an Emilian-Romagnolan soup of delicate, noodle-like dumplings made from breadcrumbs, Parmigiano-Reggiano, and eggs, pressed directly into a simmering capon or beef broth.

Canederli di pane are traditional, large bread dumplings from the Trentino-Alto Adige region, made from a base of soaked stale bread cubes bound with eggs and flour, and often stuffed with speck, cheese, or herbs, served in broth or with melted butter.

Pisarei e Faso are a classic dish from the Piacenza area of Emilia-Romagna, featuring small, hand-rolled pasta dumplings made from breadcrumbs and flour, served in a rich stew of borlotti beans and tomato sauce.

Pappa al Pomodoro is a classic Tuscan peasant soup that transforms ripe tomatoes, garlic, basil, and stale bread into a thick, comforting porridge, served warm or at room temperature.

Polpette di Pane are a thrifty dish from Italian home cooking, using soaked stale bread as the primary base, bound with eggs, cheese, and parsley, then fried into savory, golden vegetarian "meatballs."

Migas is a rustic Spanish dish where stale bread is torn into pieces, soaked, and then fried in olive oil with garlic and paprika, often enriched with chorizo or other meats.

Traditional Andalusian Gazpacho is a chilled, uncooked soup blending ripe tomatoes, cucumbers, bell peppers, garlic, olive oil, vinegar, and stale bread into a smooth purée.

Sopa de Ajo is a classic Castilian soup made by toasting garlic and stale bread in olive oil, then simmering them in a paprika-infused broth, traditionally finished with a poached egg.

Açorda is a traditional Portuguese bread soup where stale bread is soaked in a hot, garlic-and-cilantro-infused broth, often enriched with a poached egg or seafood.

Fattoush is a Lebanese bread salad defined by its use of toasted or fried pieces of stale pita bread (khubz) tossed with mixed greens, tomatoes, cucumber, radish, and a sumac and lemon vinaigrette.

Tharid is a foundational Arabian dish where a rich lamb or chicken stew is poured over a base of thin, dry flatbread, completely softening it into a savory, layered meal.

Muhammara is a Syrian dip from Aleppo, made from roasted red peppers, ground walnuts, breadcrumbs, pomegranate molasses, and spices, creating a sweet, sour, and spicy spread.

Bread Upma is a quick, savory South Indian breakfast dish where toasted bread cubes are stir-fried with tempered spices, onions, and vegetables.

Bread Vada is a modern South Indian snack where slices of stale bread are soaked in a spiced, yogurt-based batter, then deep-fried until crisp, creating a savory, golden fritter.

Bread Manchurian is an Indo-Chinese fusion dish where cubes of bread are deep-fried until crisp, then tossed in a sweet, spicy, and sour sauce made with soy, chili, and vinegar.

Chilaquiles is a traditional Mexican breakfast dish made by simmering lightly fried tortilla pieces in salsa until softened, typically topped with crema, cheese, onion, and a fried egg.

Strata is a savory American brunch casserole where layers of stale bread, cheese, and a seasoned egg custard are assembled and baked until puffed and golden.

Kvass is a traditional Russian and Eastern European fermented beverage made by soaking rye bread in water with sugar and a starter culture, resulting in a tangy, lightly effervescent drink.

Torta Paesana is a Lombardian sweet bread cake from the Lake Como region, made by soaking stale bread in milk and mixing it with cocoa, nuts, candied fruit, and amaretti cookies.

Budino di Pane is a traditional Italian dessert pudding made by soaking stale bread in milk, combining it with eggs, sugar, raisins, and pine nuts, and baking it until set.

Torrijas Caramelizadas is a Spanish dessert of bread soaked in milk, egg, and often wine, then fried and coated in caramelized sugar or honey, traditionally served during Lent and Easter.

Shahi Tukda is a rich Mughlai dessert where slices of bread are fried in ghee, soaked in a saffron and cardamom-scented syrup, and topped with a layer of thickened, sweetened milk (rabri) and nuts.

Pain Perdu is a Louisiana Creole dish where stale French bread is soaked in a rich egg custard flavored with vanilla and spices, then pan-fried and served with cane syrup or powdered sugar.

Bread and Butter Pudding is a classic British dessert made by layering buttered slices of stale bread with raisins in a dish, covering them with a sweet custard, and baking until golden and set.

Portokalopita is a uniquely textured Greek cake that ingeniously utilizes leftover or stale phyllo dough, which is shredded and mixed into a yogurt and orange-scented batter before baking and soaking in a fragrant orange syrup.