Description
Comforting French-inspired leek bread pudding brings rustic charm to dinner tables with rich, creamy flavors. Crusty bread, caramelized leeks, and silky custard unite in a hearty dish you’ll crave on chilly evenings.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 12 cups bread cubes (from 1 large French bread loaf), toasted
- 3 cups leeks (about 3–4 leeks, white & light green parts)
- 2 cups gruyere cheese, shredded (or comte or emmental)
- 4 large eggs
- 4 cups milk
- 2 cups half and half
Seasonings and Herbs:
- 12 teaspoons kosher salt
- 12 teaspoons white pepper (or black pepper)
- 1 teaspoon dijon mustard
- 12 teaspoons freshly grated nutmeg
- 1 tablespoon chives (or scallions)
- 1 tablespoon fresh thyme
Fats and Oils:
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
Instructions
- Prepare oven by heating to 350F (175C), ensuring optimal temperature for baking.
- Carefully slice leeks into thin rounds, then cleanse thoroughly by immersing in lukewarm water to eliminate any grit. Drain and gently dry with paper towels.
- Create caramelized leeks using a medium-high heat skillet. Introduce leeks with a pinch of salt, cooking for 5 minutes. Reduce heat, incorporate butter and olive oil, then cover and simmer for 20-30 minutes, stirring intermittently until leeks transform into a soft, golden delicacy.
- Transform bread into rustic cubes approximately 1-inch in size. Distribute evenly on a sheet pan, toasting for 20 minutes until achieving a crisp, golden texture. Transfer the crunchy cubes to a spacious mixing vessel.
- Craft a luxurious custard by whisking eggs, milk, half and half, Dijon mustard, salt, pepper, chives, thyme, and nutmeg until smooth and well-integrated.
- Prepare a 9×13-inch baking dish with a light grease. Create a foundational layer of cheese, then alternate layers of leek-bread mixture and cheese. Carefully pour custard over the assembled layers, gently pressing bread cubes to ensure complete saturation. Allow 10 minutes for absorption before adding final cheese topping.
- Bake for 1½ hours, monitoring until the pudding rises dramatically and develops a delicate golden-brown crust.
Notes
- Choose a leek variety like Mellow or King Richard for sweeter, milder flavor when caramelizing.
- Remove tough green tops from leeks to ensure tender, delicate texture in the final dish.
- Pat leeks completely dry after soaking to prevent excess moisture during cooking and achieve perfect caramelization.
- Use day-old crusty bread like sourdough or brioche for better absorption of custard and richer flavor profile.
- Create vegetarian version by substituting half and half with plant-based milk and using dairy-free cheese alternatives.
- Allow bread pudding to rest 10-15 minutes after baking to help custard set and improve slicing consistency.
- Try additional herbs like rosemary or sage to customize flavor complexity.
- Prepare dish ahead and refrigerate overnight, enhancing flavor melding and making meal prep easier.
- Prep Time: 1 hour
- Cook Time: 1 hour 30 minutes
- Category: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: French
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 8
- Calories: 335 kcal
- Sugar: 4 g
- Sodium: 1430 mg
- Fat: 18 g
- Saturated Fat: 8 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 9 g
- Trans Fat: 0.3 g
- Carbohydrates: 29 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 15 g
- Cholesterol: 125 mg