Food - Drink
The Key Ingredient That Gives Rye Bread Its Unique Flavor
By RYAN CASHMAN
It’s difficult to imagine a Reuben or a pastrami sandwich without rye bread, but you may wonder what gives a rye loaf its flavor. Rye is a hearty grain with a rich history and plenty of unique qualities, but the grain itself is not the predominant flavor in rye bread; instead, another ingredient creates the bread's distinct aroma.
Caraway seeds are a small but mighty ingredient that is often mistaken for the flavor of rye itself. These aromatic little seeds are a member of the parsley family with a sweet yet tangy flavor, and they give rye bread its characteristic earthy, sweet, and sour taste; it's pretty hard to find commercial rye bread without caraway.
As for this famous bread's unique texture, rye has a naturally low gluten content and high moisture retention level that makes for a chewy crumb. To get a true understanding of rye's flavor and texture, try pumpernickel, a deep, darkly rich rye-based bread with an amalgamation of sweet and sour flavors.