Scali Bread

01 / ABOUT THE DISH

About the dish

Scali bread is a staple of Boston-area supermarkets and bakeries. The bread is shiny, mahogany-brown in color, braided, and coated with lots of sesame seeds which give it a nutty flavor and a nice visual appearance. In order to make it, a simple combination of flour, yeast, and water is left to transform into a bubbly dough overnight, and the next day it's combined with water, milk, olive oil, salt, and flour. The dough is divided into three strips which are brushed with beaten eggs and topped with sesame seeds before being braided and baked. Once done, the bread is used for sandwiches, and it's also a staple at dinner tables in Boston, usually used to mop up the sauce after eating pasta or meatballs (or both).