Farmhouse Cheese and Caraway Soda Bread Puddings
A comforting combination of homemade caraway soda bread transformed into a rich bread pudding with sharp cheddar and Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese. This savory bread pudding is baked in a water bath until perfectly set, creating an elegant dish suitable for brunch or dinner.
Ingredients
- •2 cups all-purpose flour, plus more for dusting
- •¾ teaspoon baking soda
- •½ teaspoon salt
- •1 tablespoon caraway seeds
- •1 cup well-shaken buttermilk
- •2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
- •3 ounces sharp white Cheddar cheese, coarsely grated (1 1/4 cups)
- •¼ cup grated Parmigiano-Reggiano
- •4 whole large eggs
- •2½ cups whole milk
- •8 pieces (6-ounce) ramekins or a 2-quart shallow gratin or baking dish
Cooking Instructions
- 1.
Preheat oven to 375°F with rack in middle.
5 min
- 2.
Whisk together flour, baking soda, salt, and caraway in a large bowl. Add buttermilk and butter. Stir just until dough is evenly moistened but still lumpy.
5 min
- 3.
Transfer dough to a well-floured surface and turn dough to coat with flour. Gently knead with floured hands about 8 times to form a soft but slightly less sticky dough.
5 min
- 4.
Form into a domed 6-inch round and put on an ungreased baking sheet. Cut a 1/2-inch-deep "X" across top of each loaf with a sharp knife. Using a small sieve, dust 1 tablespoon of additional flour over loaf.
5 min
- 5.
Bake in middle of oven until golden brown and bottom sounds hollow when tapped, 35 to 40 minutes. Transfer loaf to a rack and cool completely.
40 min
- 6.
Preheat oven to 350°F with rack in middle. Butter ramekins or baking dish.
5 min
- 7.
Cut enough bread into 1-inch cubes to measure 3 3/4 cups (about half the loaf; reserve remaining bread for another use.) Divide bread among ramekins (or spread in larger baking dish).
10 min
- 8.
Whisk together eggs, milk, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and 1/4 teaspoon pepper. Stir in cheese and spoon over bread in ramekins or baking dish. Let stand 10 minutes.
10 min
- 9.
Put ramekins or baking dish in a larger baking pan and add enough hot water to come halfway up sides of ramekins or dish.
5 min
- 10.
Bake until just set and a knife inserted in center comes out clean, about 35 minutes.
35 min
- 11.
Transfer ramekins or dish from hot water bath to a rack and cool 20 minutes before serving.
20 min
