NEW RECIPE: Savory French Toast

© Constantine William Spyrou

In fine dining restaurants (well, restaurants in general, to be honest), one of the newest ideas that has gone around is taking a classic dish that everyone knows well and putting a new, creative spin on it that takes it to the next level. Some are simple but extremely effective, such as making hot dogs from scratch or roasting turkey with a homemade compound butter. However, some really transform a dish into something that deviates from the norm, such as a deconstructed eggs benedict or inside-out fish tacos and such. 

I decided to take a challenge and try this idea out for myself. I chose to go the crazier route and make something that deviates from the norm. The dish I chose? French toast, a classic sweet breakfast dish that is loved by adults and kids alike. While it is known for being amazing, especially with powdered sugar and maple syrup, the route I am taking with this French toast doesn't really call for either of those things. I opted to go for a savory French toast rather than the classic sweet version. 

Now, French toast may seem like it wouldn't go too well for the savory route because of what it's known for. However, when it's broken down, French toast is literally just bread dipped in an egg batter then griddled on both sides. It can easily be spun into a more savory dish just by changing bread types and what goes into the batter. 

This French toast is going to be made with Sourdough bread to give a nice tang and lend to the savory spices that will be present in the egg batter. Using savory and flavored oil to cook the French toast instead of butter just takes the flavor up that much more!

Recipe will serve 8 people.

Ingredients:

16 slices Sourdough bread
4 eggs, scrambled
1 cup milk (skim milk works best for this)
2 teaspoons chopped fresh rosemary
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon onion powder
2 teaspoons dried oregano
2 teaspoons dried basil
1 teaspoon cayenne pepper
Extra Virgin Olive oil for the griddle
Salt and pepper to season

Cooking/Assembling:

1. Create the batter by mixing together the eggs, milk, rosemary, garlic powder, onion powder, oregano, basil, cayenne, salt, and pepper until well combined.
2. Brush a hot pan or griddle with olive oil. Quickly dip both sides of the Sourdough bread in, the place on the griddle. Cook each slice of Sourdough for about 90 seconds each side. Cool and serve.

The cool part about this Savory French toast is that it really complements and goes even better with a lot of savory breakfast meats and dishes as a result of the more savory flavors. Try it out and let me know what you think!

I hope you enjoyed this recipe! Let me know what you think and what you would change. If you make it at home, let me know how it turns out! Enjoy! =)