French toast
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
French toast (also known as Fried Eggy Bread) is a popular breakfast main course in North America, parts of Europe, and Hong Kong.
French toast is made with bread (generally pre-sliced) and eggs; some common additions are milk, water, or orange juice to thin the eggs, sugar, and spices such as allspice, nutmeg, and cinnamon. Vanilla may also be added to the egg mixture. In restaurants throughout the United States and Canada, the bread is usually thick white bread made especially for use in French toast; when made at home, regular sliced bread is often used. Although usually served as a sweetly spiced dish, some prefer a savoury version, seasoned with salt and pepper instead.
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[edit] Preparation
The eggs are beaten (and mixed with other liquids, as described above) and poured into a wide, shallow bowl. Individual slices of bread are then dipped into the egg mixture and flipped, so both sides are evenly coated. If desired, the bread may be left to soak briefly to absorb more of the mixture; however, too much soaking will make the bread fall apart, which is why some cooks prefer to use bread that is closer to the end of its shelf-life. The slices of egg-coated bread are then placed on a frying pan or griddle prepared with a coat of butter, and cooked until both sides are browned and the egg has cooked through.
The cooked slices are usually served with jam or butter and maple syrup, though it can also be served with fruit syrup, apple sauce, whipped cream, chocolate, powdered sugar, or nuts such as pecans.
[edit] Variations
Stuffed French toast is two pieces of French toast that is stuffed with bananas, strawberries, or other fruit. It is usually topped with butter, maple syrup, and powdered sugar.
A French toast sandwich made with ham, Swiss cheese, and turkey is called a Monte Cristo sandwich.
In Italy a variation is served known as mozzarella in carozza (literally "mozzarella in a carriage"). In this version a slice of mozzarella cheese is sandwiched between two slices of bread and the whole dipped in egg and fried.
In Spain, it is called torrijas, tostadas or torradas and is typically made during Easter, out of thick slices of bread soaked in milk or wine, dipped in egg, fried and then drenched in spiced honey.
Many New York diners make French toast using thick slices of challah bread.
In the Western and Southwestern United States, some restaurants will prepare it with Sourdough bread.
In Hong Kong, it is usually served with honey or simple syrup. In Hong Kong-style western restaurants and cha chaan tengs in Hong Kong or Taiwanese dessert places, it may be served with butter and without a sweetening ingredient, and may be made out of a jam or peanut butter sandwich. Other Hong Kong variations include the use of Kaya in between the two slices of bread. French toast is usually served with the bread's crust, but it may be served without. It is called 西多士 (Cantonese IPA: /sɐɪ55 tɔ55 sɪ35/; Jyutping: sai1 do1 si2; Mandarin Pinyin: xīduōshì; literally "western toast", but actually an abbreviation of "法蘭西多士", "French toast") in Hong Kong usually deep-fried, and 吐司 (Pinyin: Tùshī; literally “toast”) in Taiwan.
In the United Kingdom, it is often savoury. One variation has marmite spread on the bread before dipping. Ketchup or similar can also be used.
In Brazil it is quite often used to celebrate a birth, as well as at Christmas and New Year celebrations.
In Australia French toast is generally considered a savoury snack. Seasonings added are almost never sweet. It's often served with tomato sauce.
[edit] References
- Odilie Redon et al., The Medieval Kitchen: Recipes from France and Italy (Univ. Chicago Press, Chicago, 1998).
- John F. Mariani, The Encyclopedia of American Food and Drink (Lebhar-Friedman, New York, 1999).
- Craig Claiborne, Craig Claiborne's The New York Times Food Encyclopedia (Times Books, New York, 1985).
- Fannie Farmer, The Boston Cooking-School Cook Book (Little, Brown and Co., Boston, 1918) [1]
