Food glossary

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Bread

Bread

A wide variety of different types of bread are available in Waitrose, from basic sliced white and brown to a range of speciality and continental loaves including:

Ciabatta

Ciabatta is the Italian term for slipper - this describes the appearance of the traditional long flat loaf made with olive oil. It has a light, open structure and a crisp, floury crust.

Uses: Ciabatta is good sliced horizontally and filled with cold meat, cheese and tomatoes or cut it into thick vertical slices and serve as an accompaniment to pasta.

To store: Keep in a cool dry place and use by the best before date. Ciabatta can be frozen for up to 2 months, defrost thoroughly before using.

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Crusty bread and rolls

Waitrose sell a wide variety of freshly-baked bread and rolls. Many of the types available have a crisp outer texture or crust which provides a delicious contrast to the soft interior of the loaf or roll. White bread tends to have a crustier finish than brown or wholemeal bread. White crusty bread and rolls available in Waitrose include: White crusty rolls, White flutes (similar to a baguette), White French sticks and White farmhouse loaves.

Uses: Crusty bread or rolls can be served as an accompaniment to soups, salads or pasta dishes. Crusty bread can be sliced and made into sandwiches and rolls can be split and filled with a wide variety of sweet or savoury fillings. Crusty bread is especially tasty when it is served warm.

To store: Keep in a cool place and eat within 24 hours of purchase.

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Daktyla

This soft white Greek-style loaf is topped with sesame, black onion and anise seeds. It is hand-crafted into a long loaf and divides easily into portions, it has a moist close texture.

Uses: Serve as an accompaniment to Greek salad or slice and spread with houmous or taramasalata.

To store: Keep in a cool, dry place and eat by the best before date. Daktyla can be frozen for up to 2 months, defrost thoroughly before using.

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Dough balls

Small white bread balls filled with garlic and parsley butter. The balls must be heated before eating.

Uses: Serve as an accompaniment to pasta dishes or soup or as a simple starter.

To store: Keep in the fridge and eat by the use by date. Waitrose garlic dough balls are suitable for home freezing: freeze on the day of purchase and use within 1 month. Defrost fully in a fridge before use and do not refreeze once defrosted.

To heat: Remove from the pack and place on a baking tray in a preheated oven at 200(C, gas mark 6 for 5-6 minutes.

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Focaccia

This is a flat, round Italian bread with a soft, almost cake-like texture, the wheat flour dough is enriched with extra virgin olive oil. Ready to bake focaccia trio is available with one third flavoured with tomato, basil and red peppers, one third with black olives and olive paste and one third with a blend of seeds and herbs. Ready to bake focaccia with rosemary is also available.

Uses: Cut focaccia into wedges, like a cake. Focaccia is ideal to serve with salads or as an accompaniment to barbecued foods. Flavoured focaccia is ideal served warm as an appetiser with wine or other drinks. Serve it with extra virgin olive oil for dipping and a selection of Waitrose olives and nuts.

To store: Keep in a cool dark place and use by the best before date.

To cook: Bake ready to bake focaccia in a preheated oven at 180°C, gas mark 4 for 5-7 minutes.

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French stick

The long, thin distinctive shape of a baguette or French stick, makes it one of the most widely-known types of bread. It has a characteristic crispy crust with a large, open and quite chewy texture.

Uses: Split horizontally, buttered and filled with sweet or savoury fillings, baguettes are ideal for making sandwiches. Vertical slices topped with cheese and grilled are the traditional accompaniment to French onion soup. Slices of baguette are always offered in restaurants and cafés, and in most homes, in France with meals.

To store: French sticks do not keep fresh for very long and are best eaten on the day of purchase. Baguettes can be frozen for up to 2 months, defrost thoroughly before using.

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Garlic and coriander naan

Traditional Indian naan bread flavoured with garlic and coriander, available in packs of 2.

Uses: An ideal accompaniment to any Indian-style dish, naan bread can be served instead of rice and is especially good served with curries that have a lot of sauce.

To store: Keep in a cool dry place and use by the best before date. Naan bread can be frozen for up to 2 months, defrost thoroughly before heating.

To heat: Sprinkle the bread with a little water, wrap in foil and place on a baking tray in a preheated oven (200°C, gas mark 6) for 8 minutes. Or alternatively sprinkle with a little water and place under a pre-heated medium hot grill for 3 minutes, turning once.

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Garlic

A short French stick partially vertically sliced and spread with a mixture of garlic, butter and sometimes herbs, and then baked so the garlic flavour spreads through the bread. Reduced fat garlic bread is also available.

Uses: Garlic bread is always served warm or hot and is a delicious accompaniment to soups and pasta dishes. Serve warm garlic bread as part of a buffet.

To store: Keep in the fridge and eat by the use by date.

To cook: Garlic bread should be baked before serving - check the packet for specific instructions.

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Garlic ciabatta

This ready-to-bake hand-moulded loaf has pats of fresh garlic butter in, which infuse their flavour into the bread once it is heated.

Uses: Serve hot from the oven with pizza, pasta, soups or salads.

To store: Keep in a cool dry place and eat by the use by date. Garlic ciabatta can be frozen for up to 2 months, defrost thoroughly before baking.

To cook: Place on a baking tray and bake in a preheated oven at 180°C, gas mark 4 for 15-18 minutes.

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German rye

A dark-coloured traditional German loaf made from whole grain rye and rye flour. Rye bread is also known as pumpernickel. It is sold ready sliced in long, thin slices. This type of bread is popular throughout Germany, in Scandinavia and in north America.

Uses: Rye bread is best served buttered with a selection of cheeses, cold meats or fish.

To store: Unlike most types of bread, rye bread has a long shelf life and can be kept for up to 1 month (check the best before date on the packet).

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Grand mange blanc

A stone baked long flat white loaf made with French flour. Grand mange loaves sold in Waitrose weigh 800g.

Uses: Split horizontally and use to make sandwiches or slice and serve with a selection of cheeses or soup.

To store: Keep in a cool, dry place and eat within 24 hours of purchase.

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Markouk

Markouk, also known as village bread, is a large, flat, rectangular bread popular in Mediterranean countries. It is sold in packs of 3 and is made from specially selected blends of unbleached flour and baked on a unique dome hot plate to give a light delicate result.

Uses: Serve hot or cold with dips and spreads or as an accompaniment to main meals.

To store: Store in a cool, dry place and eat by the best before date. Markouk can be frozen for up to 2 months, defrost thoroughly before use.

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Mirch massala

Traditional Indian naan bread flavoured with coriander, chilli and spices. Mirch massala are large naan breads, sold in packs of 2.

Uses: An ideal accompaniment to any Indian-style dish, naan bread can be served instead of rice and is especially good served with curries that have a lot of sauce.

To store: Keep in a cool dry place and use by the best before date. Mirch massala can be frozen for up to 2 months, defrost thoroughly before heating.

To heat: Sprinkle the bread with a little water, wrap in foil and place on a baking tray in a preheated oven (200°C, gas mark 6) for 8 minutes. Or alternatively sprinkle with a little water and place under a pre-heated medium hot grill for 3 minutes, turning once.

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Olive

A hand crafted bread marbled with swirls of black olive paste, whole green olives, extra virgin olive oil and sunflower seeds.

Uses: Olive bread makes a tasty accompaniment to pasta dishes, soups or salads. For a quick lunch serve sliced thickly topped with thinly sliced mozzarella and prosciutto and some halved baby plum tomatoes.

To store: Keep in a cool dry place and use by the best before date. Olive bread can be frozen for up to 2 months, defrost thoroughly before using.

Organic and wheat-free bread with sunflower seed topping
A small, traditional-shaped loaf made with barley, rye, maize, rice and millet. It has a nutty taste and a close texture.

Uses: Serve thickly sliced with cheese and cold meats or to accompany soups. Also good toasted and spread with jam, yeast extract or honey for breakfast.

To store: Store in a cool, dry place and use by the best before date.

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Organic and wheat-free

A small traditional-shaped loaf made with barley, rye, maize, rice and millet topped with a layer of poppy seeds.

Uses: Serve warm or cold, thickly sliced as an accompaniment to main meals or top with sweet or savoury spreads and serve for breakfast.

To store: Store in a cool, dry place and use by the best before date.

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Pane al ciccolato

An Italian-style sweet bread with chunks of continental dark chocolate and chopped prunes in an enriched, hand-crafted, luxurious bread.

Uses: Serve warm from the oven or toasted for breakfast, with morning coffee or afternoon tea. It can be eaten on its own but is also good spread with butter or clotted cream and jam.

To store: Keep in a cool dark place and eat by the best before date. Freeze for up to 2 months and defrost thoroughly before eating.

To heat: Place the whole loaf on a baking tray in a preheated oven at 140°C, gas mark 1 for 15 minutes. To warm 2-3 slices heat on a baking tray at the same temperature for 2 minutes.

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Peshwari naan

A traditional Indian sweet flat bread flavoured with coconut, apples and sultanas. Pre-packed ambient Peshwari naan are sold in packs of 2 in Waitrose.

Uses: An ideal accompaniment to any Indian-style dish, naan bread can be served instead of rice and is especially good served with curries that have a lot of sauce.

To store: Keep in a cool, dry place. Once opened store in an airtight container and consumer within 2 days.

To heat: Sprinkle the bread with a little water, wrap in foil and place on a baking tray in a preheated oven (200°C, gas mark 6) for 8 minutes. Or alternatively sprinkle with a little water and place under a pre-heated medium hot grill for 3 minutes, turning once.

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Pitta

A traditional small oval-shaped flat Arab bread which puffs up when heated.

Uses: Pitta bread is usually heated and then split and filled with a savoury filling. It can also be sliced and used to dip into hummous, taramsalata or any savoury dips.

To store: Keep in a cool, dark place and consume by the best before date. Pitta bread can be frozen for up to 2 months, defrost thoroughly before use.
To heat: Preheat the grill to high and heat for 1 minute on each side.

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Plain naan

This classic Indian bread is available in packs of 2 large breads.

Uses: An ideal accompaniment to any Indian-style dish, naan bread can be served instead of rice and is especially good served with curries that have a lot of sauce.

To store: Keep in a cool dry place and use by the best before date. Naan bread can be frozen for up to 2 months, defrost thoroughly before heating.

To heat: Sprinkle the bread with a little water, wrap in foil and place on a baking tray in a preheated oven (200°C, gas mark 6) for 8 minutes. Or alternatively sprinkle with a little water and place under a pre-heated medium hot grill for 3 minutes, turning once.

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Seeded pan gallego

A light brown Spanish style character bread with extra virgin olive oil and a blend of sunflower, pumpkin and millet seeds for a gentle crunchy texture.

Uses: Delicious for picnics, cut into thick slices and spread with soft cheese and celery or ham and wholegrain mustard. Also excellent toasted and served with fruit preserves.

To store: Keep in a cool dry place and use by the best before date. Pan gallego can be frozen for up to 2 months, defrost thoroughly before using.

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Stone baked organic brown bread

A medium-sized round loaf made with organic ingredients. Stone baked organic brown loaves available in Waitrose weigh 400g.

Uses: Slice and use to make sandwiches or cut into chunks and serve with a selection of meats or cheeses.

To store: Keep in a cool, dry place and eat within 24 hours of purchase.

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Submarine rolls

Long narrow white rolls sold in packs of 2.

Uses: Slice and fill with sacoury or sweet fillings. Slice and top with savoury ingredients such as ham and tomatoes, cover with grated Cheddar and cook under a preheated grill until the cheese is golden and bubbling.

To store: Keep in a cool, dry place and consume by the use by date.

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Walnut

Pieces of sweet walnut contrast with a characteristic hint of rye in this hand crafted bread.

Uses: Walnut bread is especially good served with cheese instead of biscuits or as an accompaniment to salads containing cheese, celery or apple. Top with chocolate spread for a sweet alternative.

To store: Keep in a cool dry place and use by the best before date. Walnut bread can be frozen for up to 2 months, defrost thoroughly before using.

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White khobez

This traditional Mediterranean-style bread is a large, flat round bread (similar to pitta bread), sold in packets of 5. It is made from specially selected unbleached wheat flour and baked in a stone oven.

Uses: Khobez can be served hot or cold and it is ideal for serving with dips or spreads. Or serve to accompany any savoury dish - the bread is especially good for soaking up sauce.

To store: Keep in a cool dry place and use by the best before date. Once opened use within 3 days. Khobez can be frozen for up to 2 months, defrost thoroughly before using.

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