Last time, I baked some homemade French bread (→ [Click here for the article on French bread]), and this time I used that bread to make "basic French toast." The ingredients and method are simple, yet the outside is crispy and the inside is fluffy. It's the perfect dish for breakfast or a snack.
The history of French toast and the origin of its name
When you hear the word "French toast," you probably think of it as a dish that originated in France, but it has actually been eaten all over the world for a long time. Even in ancient Roman cookbooks, there are recipes for soaking bread in eggs or milk and baking it.
In French, it is called "Pain Perdu," meaning "lost bread." It is a dish in which bread that has become stale and difficult to eat is "revived" by dipping it in egg.
However, there is another theory about the English name "French Toast." One well-known story is that it was invented and sold by a chef named Joseph French in 18th century America. However, the truth of this story is uncertain, and which is correct remains a mystery.
How to make basic French toast
Ingredients (serves 2)
・6 slices of French bread, 3cm thick
・2 eggs
・200ml milk
・2 tablespoons sugar
・10g butter
procedure
1. Make the egg mixture. <br data-end="719" data-start="716">Put the eggs, milk, and sugar in a bowl and mix well.
2. Soak the bread <br data-end="762" data-start="759">Place thickly sliced French bread in a storage bag (such as a Ziploc bag) and pour in the egg mixture. Squeeze the air out of the bag and submerge it in a bowl of water to create a vacuum, which will help the mixture soak all the way through.
3. Soaking <br data-end="863" data-start="860">Leave the bread in the refrigerator for about 4 hours to allow the egg mixture to soak up completely.
4. Cooking <br data-end="906" data-start="903">Melt the butter in a frying pan and cook both sides over medium heat. Cook until slightly browned, and the outside will be crispy and fragrant.
5. Finishing touches <br data-end="986" data-start="983">Sprinkle with powdered sugar or drizzle with maple syrup or honey to taste.
Arrangement ideas
Sweets
-Add vanilla or cinnamon to the egg mixture to enhance the flavor.
- Finish with chocolate sauce or fruit for a gorgeous look.
Food
- Bake in egg mixture with a little salt and finish by topping with cheese.
- If you put ham between two slices of bread and bake it, it makes a hearty snack.
summary
French toast is simple in both ingredients and preparation, but with a little ingenuity, it can have a surprisingly deep flavor. If you make it crispy on the outside and fluffy on the inside, it's a dish that really brings out the deliciousness of the bread. The appeal is that you can enjoy stale French bread without wasting it. Please try arranging it to suit your mood.
