Who should consider each option?

Fans of a hearty bread roll with soup

Are you serving pea soup as a main meal and want the bread to add flavour and texture of its own? Look for a sourdough roll with a pronounced crust or seeds.

Families looking for quick bake-at-home rolls

Individual bake-at-home rolls are easy to share between several people. A classic white Kaiser roll is an option if you’re not looking for a pronounced sourdough flavour or seeds.

Label-conscious shoppers

If you need to consider gluten, sesame or other ingredients, or want to know which salt has been used, read the label on the bread you’re actually buying. The word ‘sourdough’ doesn’t tell you this.

What should you look for when choosing?

First decide whether you want bread with a flavour of its own to go with your pea soup, or whether you’d rather serve individual rolls quickly. Then compare the type of bread and the ingredients in the products you’re considering.

What to consider What should you check? Who is this important for?
Flavour and texture Check the type of roll and whether it mentions sourdough, seeds or a crust. If pea soup is the main meal, I want the bread to have flavour and texture of its own too. That’s the top priority for around 40% of consumers.
Preparation and portions Compare the number of rolls, the baking instructions and the space available in your oven. When I’m serving several people, I want to be able to serve individual rolls on time. Convenience is the top priority for around 30% of consumers.
Type of bread and fibre Check whether the bread is white, brown or wholemeal, and compare the fibre per 100 g. I want to take the nutritional information into account and not base my choice on the word ‘sourdough’ alone. Around 20% of consumers prioritise the type of bread and its fibre content.
Ingredients and salt Read the current ingredients and allergen information; if needed, look for iodised salt or baker’s salt. If certain ingredients or the type of salt used affect my choice, I want to know before buying. For around 10% of consumers, checking the label is their first priority.

Common mistakes

  • Assuming sourdough means wholemeal

    A sourdough roll can be made with white flour: PLUS describes its sourdough spelt rolls as white spelt rolls. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends replacing white bread with brown or wholemeal bread where possible.

    Check whether the bread is labelled white, brown or wholemeal, and compare the fibre per 100 g if the type of bread matters to you.

  • Assuming every roll contains baker’s salt

    Baker’s salt is iodised salt, but the Netherlands Nutrition Centre says bakers aren’t required to use it. So the words ‘organic’ and ‘sourdough’ don’t confirm which salt a roll contains.

    Look for iodised salt or baker’s salt in the ingredients list, or ask about it when buying unpackaged bread.

  • Relying on the name for allergen information

    The sourdough rolls mentioned from Albert Heijn and PLUS contain cereals with gluten and sesame. A product name doesn’t give you the full allergen information.

    Check the current packaging and any information about possible traces every time you buy.

  • Leaving it until the day to look for bake-at-home rolls

    Lidl says its fresh bread range may vary between stores. If you need to bake several batches, serving the rolls will also take longer than the baking time for one batch.

    Check what your local store has in advance and read the baking instructions before deciding how many rolls you can prepare at once.

Brands with suitable bread options

Albert Heijn

Offers both an individual organic multiseed sourdough roll and a larger OerDesem loaf.

  • The multiseed roll contains wheat sourdough and seeds, and Albert Heijn says it is baked on a stone oven floor.
  • The OerDesem San Francisco loaf isn’t a Kaiser roll; you’ll need to slice it yourself to serve individual portions.

PLUS

Offers bake-at-home sourdough spelt rolls for anyone who wants to prepare individual rolls at home.

  • PLUS lists 7% sourdough, seeds and iodised salt, and provides instructions for the oven and air fryer.
  • These are white spelt rolls, not wholemeal rolls; the ingredients include cereals containing gluten and sesame.

ALDI

Offers white bake-at-home Kaiser rolls as a classic option to serve with pea soup.

  • According to ALDI, the pack contains six white wheat rolls with a baking time of 5–7 minutes.
  • If you specifically want sourdough or need to check the ingredients, read the packaging of the product you choose.

Lidl

Lists Kaiser rolls to bake at home.

  • Individual bake-at-home rolls are ideal for a meal where you want to serve one roll per person.
  • Lidl says its fresh bread range may vary between stores; check the packaging too if you’re looking for sourdough.

Dirk

Mentions sourdough in its general bread range and individual rolls in its rolls category.

  • You can compare loaves and individual rolls as separate options for the same pea soup meal.
  • Ask in store about the ingredients if you’re specifically looking for a sourdough Kaiser roll.

Joybuy products related to this topic

Related products coming soon.

Frequently asked questions

Is a sourdough roll always wholemeal?

No. Sourdough and wholemeal describe different properties of bread. For example, PLUS describes its sourdough spelt rolls as white; check the type of bread and compare the fibre per 100 g if you wish.

What should I serve when making pea soup for a group?

Individual bake-at-home Kaiser rolls are practical if you want to give each person a roll and keep preparation quick. ALDI lists a baking time of 5–7 minutes for its white Kaiser rolls; also bear in mind how many rolls will fit in your oven at once. For a more pronounced bread flavour, consider a sourdough roll.

Is a sourdough roll gluten-free?

Not simply because it’s made with sourdough. The sourdough rolls mentioned here from Albert Heijn and PLUS contain cereals with gluten; check the current ingredients and allergen information for every roll.

Does bread in the Netherlands always contain iodised baker’s salt?

No. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre says bakers aren’t required to use baker’s salt. For packaged bread, check whether iodised salt or baker’s salt is listed in the ingredients; for unpackaged bread, ask the baker.