Everyone loves brunch, right? It’s the perfect meal – it can be sweet or savoury, social or solitary, boozy or tee-total. Plus, it’s not so early that you have to sacrifice your weekend lie-in for it, but not so late that you’ll feel bad about having lunch a couple of hours later either!
There are so many brunch options available these days that it can be tempting to just stick with well-known traditional dishes. However, being inventive with your brunch recipes can be fun, cost-effective and, best of all, personalised to yours and your customers’ tastes.
The Freshways team have come up with five brunch ideas that are easy to make and endlessly customisable, so you can put your own twist on them or even leave it up to your customers to decide what takes their fancy. Keep reading for an array of classic staples and adventurous creations that will make your next brunch the best one yet!
Smashed avocado, smoked salmon and cream cheese bagel
Avocado on toast is a firm favourite, but if you fancy an equally quick to prepare but slightly more interesting alternative, this is a great option.
First of all, smash the avocado in a bowl with some sea salt, black pepper, fresh lemon or lime juice and a spicy component such as paprika, cayenne pepper, or even some chilli flakes if you’re feeling brave.
Once you’ve prepared the avocado, halve your bagel and lightly toast it before spreading the cream cheese over each half. Add some sliced smoked salmon to the bottom half of your bagel, then spoon the smashed avocado on top. Pop the other half of the bagel on top and you’re good to go!
There are plenty of ways to make this dish your own – you could add chives, radish slices, or cucumber, sprinkle over a herb of your choice, drizzle some hot sauce or squeeze lemon juice over it, or even top it off with a fried egg. The opportunities are endless!
Pancakes
Pancakes are a timeless classic, particularly for those of us with a sweet tooth – though they can, of course, be savoury too. While pancakes may seem like a relatively simple option, the toppings can make all the difference and have the power to turn a basic brunch into a creative delicacy. Some particularly inventive ideas include:
- Peaches and cream – fairly self explanatory, just sliced peaches and whipped cream
- Cheesecake – cream cheese, strawberry compote and biscuit crumbs
- Apple pie – baked apples and cinnamon
- Smores – marshmallow fluff (or slightly melted marshmallows), chocolate sauce, biscuit crumbs and mini marshmallows
- Tropical – coconut flakes, crushed pineapple and whipped cream
- Pumpkin pie – pumpkin puree, pumpkin pie spice and maple syrup
- Red velvet – chocolate batter with red food colouring, topped with cream cheese and/or whipped cream, maple syrup and chocolate chips
- PB&J – peanut butter and strawberry jam
Overnight oats
With a batch of overnight oats, you’re not limited to only having a tasty brunch on your days off – it’s one of the easiest, no-cooking options out there. It really is as simple as stirring together some ingredients and leaving to chill overnight.
Overnight oats technically require only two ingredients: rolled oats and milk. However, some recipes also add chia seeds, yogurt and maple syrup for extra creamy goodness. Just mix them all together in a jar and refrigerate – and there you have overnight oats!
Plus, just like pancakes you can make overnight oats as simple or as creative as you want. It’s also a fairly healthy option regardless of the flavours and toppings you choose. The oats are delicious and filling all on their own, but you can add anything from fruit and spices to seeds and jams. We’ve given you a couple of ideas below, in case you’re in need of inspiration:
- Fresh fruit – e.g. grapes, banana, peaches, strawberries, raspberries (you can also blend them into a puree to stir in)
- Dried fruit – e.g. raisins, goji berries, chopped dates
- Nuts and seeds – e.g. pistachios, sliced almonds, chopped pecans or walnuts, toasted sesame seeds
- Extra flavour – e.g. biscuit crumbs, coconut flakes, cacao nibs or dark chocolate
- Spices – e.g. cinnamon, nutmeg, cardamom, turmeric, ginger (the last two are a great option health-wise)
- Yogurt – any type is good for adding extra creaminess, protein and probiotics
- Nut butter – a great protein boost
Breakfast frittata
Just like the other dishes so far, frittatas are easy to make and very versatile – there are countless different variations you could try.
A frittata is essentially an egg-bake filled with vegetables, herbs, and a bit of cheese – though, of course, you aren’t limited to that definition. Many describe it as a crustless quiche, so make of that what you will.
A basic frittata recipe is as follows:
- Preheat the oven to approximately 200°C.
- Whisk together eggs, milk, garlic, salt, and pepper.
- Sauté your choice of filling until tender.
- When the filling’s ready, stir in any spices or herbs you like before adding the egg mixture, shaking the pan gently to distribute it evenly.
- Sprinkle with cheese and transfer the pan to the oven.
- Bake for 15 to 20 minutes, or until the egg mixture has set and the top is golden around the edges.
- Allow the frittata to cool slightly before serving.
Some of our favourite filling variations include broccoli and feta; bacon, leek and cheddar; roasted red pepper and spinach; ham and asparagus; and, chorizo, garlic and onion. That said, the ultimate brunch frittata surely must consist of sliced sausage, bacon, garlic mushrooms, spinach, potatoes, cherry tomatoes, sea salt, and black pepper.
Garlic mushroom bruschetta
We’ve used the example of garlic mushroom bruschetta here but, honestly, all bruschetta is brunch-worthy – we’re sure we can agree on that! However, once again there are numerous alternatives to the classic bruschetta toppings which make for a comforting, mid-morning meal and which are equally easy to prepare.
For this recipe, first pan fry the mushrooms in a combination of oil and butter, before then setting them aside and frying shallots (or onions) and chopped garlic in the same pan, adding a little more butter beforehand. Cook and stir for 2-3 minutes until soft, then add a little dry white wine and continue cooking until the wine has evaporated (likely another 2-3 minutes). Return the mushrooms to the pan to keep warm while you brush your bread of choice with olive oil and toast it for a couple of minutes, before rubbing a garlic clove over one side of each slice. Finally, stir some parsley into the mushroom mixture and season with salt and pepper, before spooning it onto the bread to serve.
Some more alternatives to the classic recipe include using sun-dried tomatoes and ricotta; pesto, halloumi and prosciutto; goat’s cheese and grilled asparagus; and, smoked salmon, cucumber and creme fraiche.
Freshways – Trusted Wholesale Food and Dairy Suppliers Across the UK
Do you like the sound of these brunch ideas? Here at Freshways, we not only stock bread – a staple brunch ingredient – but a whole range of other brunch foods, such as eggs, cheese, and jams. We cater to both the sweet and savoury fans out there, and are dedicated to providing every one of our clients with the freshest products available.
Since our beginnings in 1990 as a small wholesaler, we’ve grown into one of the largest independent and family-run dairy suppliers in the UK. We’ve always aimed for providing the freshest and highest quality products at competitive prices. There are no third parties involved with our process, allowing us to offer fast, efficient, and reliable supplies of dairy, regardless of where in the UK you are. From wholesalers and manufacturers right through to small businesses such as bakeries, cafes, hotels and retailers, we are the go-to reliable dairy products supplier in the UK. We pride ourselves on being an independent and family-run business that offers only the highest quality dairy products. For more information about our products, simply get in touch with a member of the Freshways team today.