Stale bread is often one of the first ingredients thrown away, but with the right method it can become a simple, tasty snack. Sweet balls made with three slices of stale bread, a few handfuls of nuts, and a few spoonfuls of grape molasses offer a simple recipe with natural fruit for a sweet treat. The recipe is flexible and can be adapted to what you have on hand. Here are the steps, ingredient substitutions, and other practical ways to use stale bread.
How to Make Sweet Snack Balls
Process three slices of stale bread with two handfuls of hazelnuts or walnuts, or a mixture of both, until finely crumbled. If you do not have stale bread, you can use etimek (Turkish dried bread) or similar hard rusks; the mixture should be dry and close to a flour-like consistency. Add one tablespoon of grape molasses and two tablespoons of tahini and mix well. Add three or four dates or dried figs, then process again. Once the mixture holds together, roll it between your palms into small balls and serve.
How to Substitute Ingredients
Adapt the recipe to what you have: use nut butter instead of tahini, or omit the grape molasses and use honey instead. Add a spoonful of cocoa for a darker color and flavor that may appeal to children. You can replace the dates with dried apricots or raisins, but this changes the sweetness, so reduce the grape molasses. Roasted nuts give the mixture a more pronounced toasted flavor.
How to Refresh Stale Bread
A practical way to refresh stale bread is to sprinkle it lightly with water and warm it in a preheated oven for a few minutes. This can crisp the crust and soften the inside. Eat the bread while it is warm; it may become firm again as it cools. Frozen stale bread cut into small slices can also be toasted directly in a toaster or oven. Freezing can help preserve bread for a few weeks. Microwaving softens bread quickly, but it may become firm again soon afterward.
Other Ways to Use Stale Bread
Grind stale bread into breadcrumbs for meatballs, fried foods, and baked dishes. Cube it, toss it with olive oil and seasonings, and bake it to make croutons for soup. Some Italian recipes, such as panzanella, use stale bread as a main ingredient; the bread absorbs tomato juices and olive oil and adds texture to the salad. Slices soaked in milk and egg can also form the base of desserts similar to Turkish bread pudding.
Reduce Bread Waste
Store bread at room temperature in a covered container or cloth bag to slow drying; it stays soft longer than when left exposed. Refrigeration is not recommended because it can make bread go stale faster. Freeze extra bread sliced into portions to help prevent waste over time; frozen slices can go straight into the toaster. Knowing a few practical ways to use leftover bread can reduce the amount of food thrown away.