Best Individual Garlic Rye Bread Puddings Recipes

SAVORY BREAD PUDDING WITH TOMATOES AND HERBS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350ºF. Oil or butter a 2-quart baking dish or gratin. If the bread is soft, toast it lightly and rub all the slices, front and back, with the cut clove of garlic. If it's stale, just rub with garlic Mince what garlic remains. Combine the two cheeses in a small bowl.
• Layer half of the bread slices in the baking dish. Top with half the tomato slices. Sprinkle the tomato slices with salt, pepper, and half the thyme, rosemary, and remaining garlic. Top with half the cheese. Repeat the layers.
• Beat together the eggs and milk. Add 1/2 teaspoon salt and a few twists of the pepper mill, and pour over the bread and tomato layers. Place in the oven and bake 40 to 50 minutes, until puffed and browned. Remove from the oven and serve hot or warm.

SAVORY BREAD PUDDING WITH KALE AND MUSHROOMS

Steps:

• Bring a medium or large pot of water to a boil, salt generously and add the kale. Cook 2 to 3 minutes, until tender but still colorful. Transfer to a bowl of cold water, then drain and squeeze out excess water. Chop coarsely and set aside.
• If using garlic, cut one of the garlic cloves in half and rub the slices of bread with the cut side. Then mince all of the garlic. Cut the bread into 1-inch squares.
• Heat the oil over medium-high heat in a heavy, wide skillet and add the mushrooms. Cook, stirring often, until they begin to soften, and add the thyme, garlic and salt and pepper to taste. Continue to cook for another minute or two, until the mushrooms are tender and fragrant. Stir in the kale, toss together and remove from the heat.
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Oil or butter a 2-quart baking dish, soufflé dish or gratin. In a large bowl, combine the bread cubes, the mushrooms and kale, and the two cheeses and toss together. Transfer to the prepared baking dish.
• Beat together the eggs and milk. Add salt to taste and a few twists of the pepper mill, and pour over the bread mixture. Let sit for 5 to 10 minutes before baking so that the bread can absorb some of the liquid.
• Place in the oven and bake 40 to 50 minutes, until puffed and browned. Remove from the oven and serve hot or warm.

BREAD PUDDING FOR TWO

Steps:

• Divide bread between two greased 8-oz. baking dishes; set aside. In a bowl, beat eggs, milk, sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg and salt. Pour over bread. Bake, uncovered, at 350° for 40-45 minutes or until a knife inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool slightly. Serve warm.

INDIVIDUAL GARLIC RYE-BREAD PUDDINGS

Steps:

• Cut bread into 1/2-inch cubes (5 cups). In a large baking pan dry bread, uncovered, at room temperature 12 hours. (Alternatively, dry bread in a 250°F oven 1 hour.)
• Lightly butter 12 non-stick 1/2-cup muffin cups.
• Mince garlic and mash to a paste with salt. In a small saucepan melt butter over moderate heat and stir in garlic paste. In a bowl toss together bread and garlic butter and divide evenly among muffin cups. In a bowl whisk together whole eggs, yolks, milk, cream, and pepper and ladle slowly and evenly over bread mixture. Chill puddings, covered, at least 1 hour and up to 8.
• Preheat oven to 350°F.
• Bake puddings in middle of oven until golden and puffed, about 40 minutes, and cool in cups on a rack 10 minutes (puddings will sink as they cool). Run a thin knife around side of each cup and lift puddings out with a fork. Serve puddings warm.