Savory French Toast | Diethood
This savory French toast recipe is a scrumptious twist on the traditional breakfast dish! I soak fluffy bread slices in a wealthy custard with crumbled feta cheese and contemporary thyme. As a substitute of maple syrup, prime your slices with a dollop of plain yogurt and dig in.
Aromatic and savory, feta cheese-crusted French toast is an homage to my Macedonian roots, together with extra of my childhood favorites like macaroni and feta cheese and moussaka. If you happen to’ve by no means tried it earlier than, you’re gonna LOVE it!
Rising up, this savory model of French toast with feta and thyme was our morning breakfast each Sunday. Nonetheless, we (Macedonians) name this “Przeni Lepcinja”, a.okay.a. fried bread slices, and never French Toast. The truth is, the primary time I heard it referred to as that was after we got here to the States. Right here, after all, French toast is named a candy brunch dish. However I like the flavors on this savory model with eggs, milk, salty cheese, and contemporary herbs all soaked up into mushy, crusty slices of fried French bread.
Why I Love This French Toast Recipe
- Taste-packed. This recipe swaps the same old custard of eggs, milk, and sugar for a model flavored with zesty thyme, creamy, crumbly feta, and freshly cracked black pepper. What could possibly be higher?!
- A savory various. These days, I like pancakes, waffles, muffins, and banana bread, however there was a time in my life when candy breakfast meals weren’t my factor (sure, actually!). My compromise on the brunch desk was this superb savory French toast from my childhood.
- Straightforward to make. If you happen to’ve ever made candy French toast, this savory model follows the identical course of. It’s straightforward and the proper breakfast for a lazy morning or an important day– nearly any time we’re craving one thing cozy and comforting. It’s additionally one in all our favourite “brinner” concepts (breakfast for dinner). Simply add a contemporary salad on the facet!
Recipe Elements
It seems that the French don’t name it French Toast, both. They name it ache perdu, or “misplaced bread” for the reason that recipe requires day-old bread. I bear in mind my Mother would purposely go away a loaf of bread on the counter the evening earlier than in order that it could be as stale as doable the subsequent day. I nonetheless do the identical every time I make this recipe!
Listed below are some further notes on what you’ll want. Scroll all the way down to the printable recipe card after the publish for the total ingredient measurements and recipe particulars.
- Stale Bread – Ask your native bakery for a day-old loaf, or you possibly can go away your bread out in a single day in order that it stales somewhat. I exploit French bread and slice it into thick, 1” slices.
- Oil – Vegetable oil or one other cooking oil, for frying.
- Milk and Eggs – For the custard. Any sort of milk will work (even dairy-free), however the greater the fats content material, the higher. I exploit complete milk.
- Contemporary Thyme – Chop the leaves from the sprigs. You need to use any contemporary herbs that you simply like. Different good choices are rosemary, basil, chives, and oregano.
- Black Pepper – Freshly cracked.
- Feta Cheese – The most effective is crumbled feta. You can use one other grated cheese, like Parmesan or Pecorino, too.
Learn how to Make Savory French Toast (Przeni Lepcinja)
Fried bread slices with feta are a core reminiscence. Once I was younger, we’d come residence from Church, collect across the kitchen desk, and anticipate Mother to ship the products. And boy, was it good!
Right here’s a fast overview of find out how to make French toast the Macedonian method. This isn’t your common French toast, although whereas the components are completely different, the tactic is similar.
- Combine the custard. Begin by combining milk and eggs with thyme, black pepper, and about one cup of feta cheese. Give {that a} actually good whisk.
- Soak the bread. Subsequent, dip your bread slices into the custard. Be sure that it’s nicely coated on all sides and scoop up any feta that’s settled on the backside of the bowl.
- Fry. Working in batches, add the soaked slices to a sizzling skillet or griddle with oil. Let the bread toast on both facet till it’s good and brown, and transfer the completed slices to a paper towel-lined plate to empty.
- Serve! Load your savory French toast onto a platter and sprinkle over leftover feta. Serve heat along with your favourite brunch sides! See beneath for concepts.
Make-Forward
Typically, particularly throughout the holidays, I like to organize the egg custard for this French toast recipe a day or two upfront. It retains nicely within the fridge when it’s saved hermetic. Whisk it up as directed, seal it in a container, and pop it within the fridge till you’re prepared to make use of it. You’ll be able to even slice up the bread the evening earlier than and let it dry out a bit extra.
Suggestions and Variations
- Use stale bread. It’s value repeating, however you need to all the time use stale, day-old bread to make French toast! Contemporary bread turns into soggy method too rapidly as soon as it’s dipped within the custard.
- Ensure to soak the bread nicely. Give the bread slices a great dunking within the custard and let it soak in earlier than frying. You don’t wish to oversoak in order that they turn out to be soggy, however the bread must be evenly coated.
- Hold the warmth regular. Don’t let the pan overheat, as your toast will burn outdoors earlier than the within is cooked via. Hold it regular over medium warmth.
- Attempt completely different herbs. Be at liberty to swap the thyme with any herbs you have got readily available. And if contemporary herbs aren’t in season, it’s high quality to make use of dried ones as an alternative. Good blends for this recipe are Italian seasoning and Herbes de Provence.
- Completely different cheese. As a substitute of feta, strive savory Parmesan French toast, or swap in different cheeses like Asiago, shredded cheddar, or crumbled goat cheese.
- Make it spicy. Give your savory French toast somewhat kick with crushed crimson pepper flakes, cayenne pepper, or Cajun spice. You can even whisk a touch of sizzling sauce into the custard.
- Searching for one thing candy? I’ve equally scrumptious recipes for pumpkin French toast and this apple French toast casserole if you happen to’re after a candy breakfast. Additionally, do that creamy banana French toast made within the crock pot!
Serving Strategies
A facet of plain yogurt or Macedonian taratur is all you want as a substitute for maple syrup with this savory French toast. I additionally prefer to dollop on some ajvar (crimson pepper relish) as a result of it goes with the whole lot! I’ll often have it out anyway since one in all my favourite brunch dishes to serve with this French toast is Macedonian shakshuka. In any other case, I’ll maintain it easy with a facet of crispy bacon and contemporary tomatoes picked from the backyard. Clearly, mimosas are a should!
Storing and Reheating Leftovers
- Refrigerate. Retailer any leftover French toast slices in an hermetic container within the fridge for as much as 3 days.
- Reheat. I prefer to heat this savory French toast both in a skillet once more, or in a heat oven to crisp up the skin. Often 350ºF for 10 minutes or so does the trick.
Extra Savory Breakfast Recipes
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Prep. Line a plate with paper towels and put aside. In the meantime, warmth oil in a skillet or frying pan over medium warmth.
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Make the custard. In a mixing bowl, whisk collectively milk, eggs, herbs, salt, black pepper, and 1 cup crumbled feta cheese till fully blended.
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Soak the bread. Dip every slice of bread within the egg combination, masking all sides and scooping up bits of feta cheese from the underside. We love our French toast further eggy, so I let the bread soak for a couple of minute as an alternative of simply giving it a fast dip.
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Fry. Switch every bread slice to the pan and prepare dinner on either side till golden brown, about 2 to three minutes per facet. Add extra oil as wanted (I prepare dinner 2 to three slices of bread at a time). Take away every slice and place on paper towels to absorb any extra oil.
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Serve. Sprinkle toast with remaining crumbled feta cheese and serve sizzling.
- Make Forward: The batter will be made 1-2 days forward of time and stored within the fridge till prepared to make use of.
- Milk: You need to use any sort of milk, even dairy-free, however the greater the fats content material, the higher.
Serving: 1slice | Energy: 198kcal | Carbohydrates: 19g | Protein: 8g | Fats: 10g | Saturated Fats: 4g | Polyunsaturated Fats: 3g | Monounsaturated Fats: 2g | Trans Fats: 0.03g | Ldl cholesterol: 60mg | Sodium: 438mg | Potassium: 96mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 171IU | Calcium: 141mg | Iron: 2mg
Dietary information is an estimate and supplied as courtesy. Values could differ in response to the components and instruments used. Please use your most well-liked dietary calculator for extra detailed information.