Bread Bowls

By
Saad Fayed
Saad Fayed
A restaurateur and food writer, Saad Fayed has published hundreds of recipes and articles about Middle Eastern cuisine.
Learn about The Spruce Eats' Editorial Process
Updated on 06/29/21
bread bowl

 Joseph De Leo / Getty Images
Prep: 2 mins
Cook: 15 mins
Total: 17 mins
Serving: 1
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
293 Calories
15g Fat
33g Carbs
7g Protein
Show Full Nutrition Label Hide Full Nutrition Label
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 1
Amount per serving
Calories 293
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 15g 19%
Saturated Fat 2g 11%
Cholesterol 0mg 0%
Sodium 386mg 17%
Total Carbohydrate 33g 12%
Dietary Fiber 1g 5%
Total Sugars 3g
Protein 7g
Vitamin C 0mg 0%
Calcium 33mg 3%
Iron 3mg 14%
Potassium 75mg 2%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)

Bread bowls—bowls made from round breads that are filled with piping hot soups and stews—are a special restaurant menu item, and a sought after food at the Fisherman's Wharf in San Francisco (mainly seafood chowder in a sourdough bread bowl). But they don't have to only be enjoyed when dining out—bread bowls are actually easy to make at home. And once you've made one, you may find a variety of ways to use a bread bowl, from chowders and creamy soups to chunky stews and party dips.

Ingredients

  • 1 sourdough or Italian bread loaf, round or oval shaped

  • Olive oil, for coating the bread

Steps to Make It

  1. Gather ingredient. Pre-heat oven to 350 F.

  2. Cut about 1/2 inch off the top of the loaf with a serrated knife.

  3. Hollow out the bread by removing some of the bread from the inside. Leave about 1 1/2 inches of bread along the sides and bottom.

  4. Brush olive oil on the inside of the bread bowl using a pastry brush or paper towel. This creates a seal, ensuring whatever you put in the bread bowl will not leak out.

  5. Place the bread bowl on a baking sheet and bake for 15 minutes, until golden on the inside. Remove from the oven, and fill with desired soup or stew while still warm.

Tips

  • To remove the bread from the inside of the loaf, you can simply scoop it out using your hands. Or, if you prefer a quicker and slightly neater method, use a knife to cut sections first and then scoop out.
  • Save the bread that has been scooped out to turn into croutons or breadcrumbs. If you have removed the inside as pieces, you can cut into cubes and toast in the oven. Then serve the croutons on top of the soup in the bread bowl, or save for later use. If the bread is in clumps, you can process it in a food processor and use as soft breadcrumbs to top casseroles and as filler in meatballs and meatloaf.