brás

Brös is a Swedish culinary term referring to small crumb-like fragments of bread or cereals, produced by crushing stale bread, crusts, or rusks. Historically, brös served as a practical way to preserve bread and to add body to soups, stews, or porridges. In rural kitchens, it was also used as feed for livestock or mixed with milk as a simple porridge for children.

In modern Swedish cuisine, brös often denotes toasted or dried breadcrumbs used as a topping or thickener. It can be plain or lightly seasoned and is employed to provide texture and binding in casseroles, meat dishes, or fruit desserts. Commercial brös may be sold as brödsmulor (bread crumbs) and can come in fine, medium, or coarse textures.

Preparation and storage: brös is prepared by drying bread or crusts and breaking them into fragments, with optional toasting to achieve a crunchier texture. Store in a cool, dry place; moisture can cause mold or clumping. Shelf life depends on storage conditions and the bread type used.

Variations and usage: different bread types yield distinct flavors, from neutral white breadcrumbs to more pronounced rye or whole-grain brös. Some recipes incorporate fat, salt, herbs, or sugar to tailor the crumb for specific dishes.

See also: Breadcrumbs, brödsmulor, bread crumbs.