7 dishes in a bread bowl

Votes: 6

Bread bowls are perhaps primarily used as soup "bowls," but they shouldn't be limited to that.

Not just soup

Bread bowls may conjure up memories of boring clam chowder or broccoli cheese soup, but they've been used for hundreds of years to serve a wide variety of foods. Here are seven dishes that are even better served in a bread bowl.

Brunch

Scoop out the crumb from rye pumpernickel bread and fill it with cream cheese whipped with smoked salmon. Garnish with tomatoes, capers, and chopped tomatoes.

Carbohydrate charge

Top a sourdough bread bowl with creamy cheddar mashed potatoes, crispy bacon, and chopped green onions—and enjoy.

If you like deviled eggs…

…but hate messing with them, chop hard-boiled eggs (whites and yolks), then toss with a dressing of mustard, mayonnaise, and sliced gherkins. Stuff a soft bun with the mixture and serve with celery sticks.

Bavarian sophistication

A classic Oktoberfest cheese spread, obatzda, is conveniently served in a pretzel bun. Whisk together a soft cheese (like brie), a little butter, beer, and paprika, then stuff and serve as a dip.

There's nothing better than pizza

Except, perhaps, pizza dip in a bread bowl. Fill Italian bread (if you have prosciutto bread in your area, even better) with tomato sauce and ricotta. Top with grated mozzarella and sliced pepperoni, and bake until bubbly.

Breakfast in a new way

Serve this classic breakfast in a bread bowl. Remove the Kaiser roll, place the cooked sausages inside, then crack an egg on top and top with a slice of American cheese. Bake until the eggs are set and serve with salt, pepper, and ketchup.

Curry in a bowl

Take a cue from South Africa, where curry in a bread bowl is called "bunny chow": fill a rectangular loaf of white bread with vegetable curry, chicken curry, or lamb curry.