Crystal Bread: another ingredient in your star dishes.
Crystal bread is not just any old bread, since it has a series of peculiarities that make it the star of various dishes and recipes. Once you get to know it, you won’t want to stop using it in your hospitality business. We promise.
What’s that bread that has almost no crumb and stands out for its incomparable crust? Indeed: it’s Crystal bread. Currently considered one of the most successful breads in the hotel and catering sector, it’s notable mainly for the airiness of its crumb, as well as its extreme fineness. All this is the result of a dough that’s much more hydrated than normal; so much so that its hydration percentage is as high as 90%. Its crust, which is equally brittle and crunchy, has also made it very popular in the catering industry.
Despite this, Crystal bread is, in fact, a relatively recent invention and, interestingly, it takes some of its qualities from a close relative, the ciabatta, a white bread made with wheat flour and which originated in Italian cuisine. The ciabatta, however, is more compact than Crystal bread.
But why is Crystal bread so widely used? Basically, because its mild and neutral flavour allows it to enhance the nuances of the foods it accompanies, that is, it’s become a bread that goes great with numerous mixtures and special delicacies. What to eat Crystal bread with is a very simple question, since it’s the ideal companion for cold meats, cheeses, preserves, jams and pâtés.
If all these reasons didn’t suffice for you to have it at your establishment, Crystal bread has a relatively simple recipe. Thanks to frozen doughs, you won’t even have to invest valuable time and effort in it. Frozen doughs, which are made following all the processes and artisan steps, allows you to obtain delicious products that are deep-frozen in the last stage of their production so that they need only be baked in the oven quickly and easily. How to make Crystal bread will never be a worry again.
But Crystal bread needn’t be only one part of a dish, it can become in itself an interesting attraction for lovers of this bread. For example, there are recipes that praise the type of bread used. “Santoña anchovies on a bed of Crystal bread” is just one example, but with a little imagination you can also make interesting combinations that use Crystal bread as a differentiating element of exquisite dishes.
Also remember that Crystal bread is a safe bet with other types of special tastings. With rubbed or grated tomato, for example, it’s a snack that summarises the Mediterranean diet particularly well; simple, but effective. Another recipe you can offer at your business is a goat’s cheese roll, Iberian ham, baby spinach leaves, olive oil and salt flakes on Crystal bread. Last but not least, the sardine and guacamole Crystal bread toast is another dazzling option.
Regarding the types or formats of Crystal bread you can purchase, please note that there is a multitude of options, from Mediterranean Crystal express to Mediterranean express Crystal bread roll and Mediterranean Crystal catering or the Mediterranean express Crystal mini sandwiches. Variety is the spice of life.
What about the hamburger bun?
It might seem that Crystal bread can only be enjoyed in a sandwich or as toast, but there’s also Crystal bread specifically focused on enjoying burgers (and eating a good burger with a bun to match is, without doubt, a very special moment). This is the case of the rustic Crystal burger, made with olive oil and sourdough, and pre-cut to make the catering staff’s work easier. Just defrost it and it’ll be ready, and if you want a crunchier finish, just give it a quick 2-minute blast in the oven.
Crystal bread not only goes well with rich special dishes, but also enhances them due to its peculiarities. For all these reasons, it’s a type of bread that you should always have on hand in your business.
