Black Russian Pumpernickel Bread Machine Mix

I think of this as a deli sandwich bread. It's that, but it's more than that. It's very versatile.  We'll help you with your sandwiches and take you on a culinary adventure.

• A Culinary Adventure
• Black Russian Bread: Questions You May Have
• How to Make a Grilled Reuben Sandwich
• How to Make Burger Buns with Your Black Russian Bread
• How to Make Pigs in a Blanket with Black Russian Bread
• Sandwich Notes: The Role of Condiments

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A Culinary Adventure

In northern Europe, they'll put almost anything on Black Russian.  I'm not that adventurous, but I will go sweet.

It makes great morning toast with lots of melted butter and jam or honey. Try Lingonberry Jam or Blackcurrant Jelly. Blueberry Honey works well, but try Strawberry Rhubarb Honey with its stronger flavor.  

A mixture of cream cheese and jam is perfect. A Black Raspberry Jam works great.

And it makes fine grilled cheese sandwiches. Cook the sandwiches in plenty of butter and top it with a lid to trap the heat and get the cheese all drooly.

My dad would put jam on the cheese and cook it together. He loved jam on his cheese sandwiches, grilled or not, and he didn't care what flavor of jam as long as it was red.

Dennis Weaver

Now, Back to the Sandwiches

Deli sandwiches are the best. And if you have the bread, you can make the sandwiches--deli-quality sandwiches. The key is the bread, fresh homemade bread that you made the same day.

This is the bread that you expect to find when you visit New York. It's authentic. It's a sourdough rye bread. It's a pumpernickel. This is the bread of delis and deli sandwiches.

Look what you can make! This is the real deal. Turn your kitchen into a deli. Share it with your family. Share it with your friends. Treat yourself.

It's an experience you don't want to miss. It's an experience you want to share.

"Family favorite! The best bread for grilled pastrami and cheese. Grand kids love it!"  --Sylvia Jacobus 

"We had our first Maple & Brown Sugar Ham sandwiches with this bread,....most excellent. If you like a good "homestyle" pumpernickel bread you'll love this one."  --Joe

"Guests enjoyed the black bread with dinner. . . . made a great corned beef sandwich!"  --John Moses

"Goes very well with braised brisket, pickled fish, and as sandwiches."  --Mark Matsushima

"This bread, slathered with butter, is the ultimate comfort food. It is good fresh and sliced for a sandwich, and also delicious toasted. . . . . It is simply the best black bread ever!"  --Karen Brownell

". . . great with corn beef and sauerkraut and cheese, as in Reuben sandwich. Wonderful, delectable will be ordering more."  --Robert Pratt

Your Questions about Black Russian Bread

• I love the idea of homemade Black Russian, but how much is it going to cost to ship? It costs too much to ship small packages.  But we currently only charge $5 for orders over $69.  Bread mixes are heavy. We think that's the best deal in America.
• How does the cost compare? You get the makings for a bakery-quality loaf delivered to your door, probably for less than the bakery. It's homemade and it's yours. And you get to eat while it's still warm and the butter melts.
• What does it taste like? You can taste the sourdough rye. It is definitely a pumpernickel, a light rye. It is definitely not pungent. It's a light sourdough--the rye is in the background.
  
• Is it a crusty bread? It's crustier than store-bought bread, but it doesn't have a heavy crust like European sourdough.
• What about the crumb? It's soft and moist and, of course, dark.
• What makes Black Russian pumpernickel bread black? It's the dark rye flour. Wheat doesn't grow well in the subarctic. This has some wheat flour but also dark rye flour and dark rye meal.  The Russians are rightfully proud of their bread.
• Is black Russian bread healthier? The Russians believed that their bread made them sturdier, healthier people. It has 30% more iron and 50% more magnesium and potassium.
• Can you toast it? I do. It makes a really fine, crusty toast. I've put jam and jelly on it, but it's perfect with honey.  We carry a star thistle honey, a dark honey that is perfect.
• How does it compare to a big-city deli? It's perfect and authentic. There is a big-city restaurant chain with black bread; this is better.
• So, is this good for sandwiches? It was meant for sandwiches. You can do anything that you can in a deli with this. Rueben sandwiches are perfect on black Russian. 

Dennis Weaver

Make deli sandwiches for your family with this bread. But there is so much more. Make burgers and dinner rolls. Scroll down and see how to make pigs in a blanket, even croutons.

Yes, it's even more than deli sandwiches.

How to Make Black Hamburger Buns

His and hers burgers: A Salsa Bread Burger and a Black Russian Burger

You can make hamburger buns out of any bread mix.  We have nearly a hundred choices.  All of a sudden, burgers aren't ordinary. Explore and choose what you want. Don't get stuck in a rut.  Switch to something else. 

And homemade bread is much, much better than store buns.  And they're not hard to make.

A large bread mix will make 8 to 10 buns.  Freeze any leftovers and thaw them on the grill.

1. Make the dough according to the package instructions. If you're mixing the dough in a bread machine, cycle 8 is the program for dough on most machines.
2. Using a bench scraper or sharp knife, divide the dough into 8-10 equal pieces. 
3. Form each piece into a ball by pulling the dough around the center and pinching the seam at the bottom of the roll. 
4. Place each ball of dough onto a greased or parchment paper-lined baking sheet. Using the back of your hand, flatten each ball into a disc. Because the dough has a tendency to spring back, repeat this process after a few minutes. 
5. Let these buns rise covered (preferably in a proofing bag) in a warm area until they double in size. If you have a cool kitchen, it will take an hour or more. When they have risen, bubbles begin to form under the dough skin. If blisters form, pop them with the point of a knife and hurry them to the oven.
6. Bake at 350 degrees F for 15-18 minutes until the tops are golden. 
7. Remove the buns from the baking sheet immediately, and let them cool on a wire rack. Once cooled, slice them in half, and now you’re ready to assemble some beautiful burgers!

How to Make Pigs in a Blanket

Here's how to make pigs in a blanket using Black Russian Bread.

Sandwich notes: The Role of Condiments

The difference between a really good sandwich and an everyday sandwich is often the condiments. For a great sandwich, use more and better condiments. Mayo is okay. In fact, mayo is a great carrier for flavors.  You can add flavors to the mayo. But if you are using Alaskan sourdough instead of San Franciso sourdough, don't add too many or too strong of flavors to the mayo.

• Vinagarette is always a great spark to mayo. Just don't use too much--a hint, not a wash.
• If you're making a ham sandwich, consider adding a little honey to your mayo. Ham loves sweet. Instead of honey, you could add raspberry jam.
• If you're making a turkey sandwich or a beef, consider adding some Thai sweet chili to your mayo.
• For a tuna sandwich, add a little dill or chopped tarragon to the mayo. My mother added dill relish. For fish sandwiches, I mix tartar sauce with the mayo.  Lemon always works.

If you have a dynamite condiment that works with the fillings, it will carry the sandwich. Use plenty of it. Spread it on both slices of bread. Spread it on the turkey or ham. Spread it on the cheese. You'll have a great sandwich. 

See how to make Swiss and Corned Beef Sandwiches.