French toast

French toast is a dish of sliced bread soaked in beaten eggs and often milk or cream, then pan-fried. Alternative names and variants include eggy bread,<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Bombay toast, gypsy toast,<ref name="Mille">Template:Cite web</ref> and poor knights (of Windsor).<ref name="oed">Oxford English Dictionary, 3rd ed., 2006, s.v. 'poor' S3</ref>

When French toast is served as a sweet dish, sugar, vanilla, or cinnamon are also commonly added before pan-frying, and then it may be topped with sugar (often powdered sugar), butter, fruit, or syrup. When it is a savory dish, it is generally fried with a pinch of salt or pepper, and it can then be served with a sauce such as ketchup or mayonnaise.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Terminology

This dish occurs in various forms and under different names in many places, but this article calls it "French toast" for convenience.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>

The usual French name is Template:Lang (Template:IPA) Template:Gloss, reflecting its use of stale or otherwise "lost" bread. It may also be called Template:Lang Template:Gloss in Canada.<ref>Trésor de la Langue Française Informatisé s.v. pain</ref>

History

Some authors consider the recipe for Template:Lang (translated as 'Another sweet dish') included in the Apicius, a 1st-century CE Ancient Roman cuisine cookbook, "not very different" from modern French toast, although it does not involve eggs.<ref>Template:Cite book full text</ref><ref>Template:Cite book full text</ref>

In Le Viandier, culinary cookbook written around 1300, the French chef Guillaume Taillevent presented a recipe for Template:Lang<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> involving eggs and sugar.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

A 14th-century German recipe uses the name Template:Lang Template:Gloss,<ref name="slate">Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite book</ref> a name also used in English<ref name="oed" /> and the Nordic languages.

In the 15th century, there are English recipes for Template:Lang<ref name="slate" /><ref>Austin, T. Two 15th-century Cookery-books, 1888, quoting a 1450 recipe, quoted in the Oxford English Dictionary.</ref><ref>Template:Cite book</ref> and culinary expert Martino da Como also offers a recipe.<ref>Odile Redon, et al., The Medieval Kitchen: Recipes from France and Italy, 2000, p. 207f</ref>

In Spain, one of the first recipes was published in 1611 by Template:Ill.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

An Austrian and Bavarian term is Template:Lang because the shape of the dish is reminiscent of medieval knights' shields from the city of Pavia.<ref>Ammon, Ulrich (2004). Variantenwörterbuch des Deutschen: die Standardsprache in Österreich, der Schweiz und Deutschland sowie in Liechtenstein, Luxemburg, Ostbelgien und Südtirol, Template:ISBN, p. 552.</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In Hungary, it is commonly called Template:Lang (Template:Lit).<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

In Ottoman cuisine, a dish of bread soaked in eggs with honey but no milk is called fāvniyye.<ref>Nesrin Altun, Kitâb-ı Me’kûlât, 1848?, p. 53.</ref>

Preparation

File:French toast, maple syrup.jpg

French toast topped with fruit, butter and cream, served with maple syrup

Slices of bread are soaked or dipped in a mixture of beaten eggs, often whisked with milk or cream. Sliced or artisan loaves cut to Template:Convert thick are frequently used as the bread of choice.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, and vanilla may be variously added to the mixture. The bread is then fried in butter or olive oil until browned and cooked through. Day-old bread is often used, both for its thrift and because it will soak up more egg mixture without falling apart.<ref name="brown">Archived at GhostarchiveTemplate:Cbignore and the Wayback MachineTemplate:Cbignore: Template:Cite webTemplate:Cbignore</ref>

The cooked slices may be served with sugar or sweet toppings such as caramel, ice cream, jam, honey, fruit,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> or maple syrup.

Variations

There are many variations. The dipping mixture might not include eggs<ref>[Compleat Cook (1659) as quoted in the OED Citation incomplete, needs improvement]</ref> and the bread may be soaked in wine, rosewater, or orange juice, either before or after cooking.<ref>Ayto, John. The Diner's Dictionary: Word Origins of Food and Drink, Template:ISBN, p. 142.</ref><ref>Islip, Adam (1611). A Dictionarie [sic] of the French and English Tongues, full text</ref>

International versions

Balkans

In Southern Slavic countries, such as Bulgaria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Slovenia, Croatia, and Serbia, it is called Template:Lang, Template:Lang, Template:Lang, or Template:Lang. It is eaten sweet or savory and paired with ajvar, jam, cheese, prosciutto, or sausage.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In Romania, it is known as Template:Lang and almost always served as a savoury dish without milk, although milk can be requested at most dinners.<ref name="Savori urbane">Template:Cite web</ref>

Brazil and Portugal

File:Rabanadas, Christmas cakes (2135990222).jpg

Portuguese Template:Lang, traditionally served at Christmas

In both Portugal and Brazil, Template:Lang are a traditional Christmas dessert.<ref>Rabanada, um antigo clássico natalino presente em todo o mundo Template:Webarchive (in Portuguese)</ref> Many recipes often use Tinto or Port wine.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Denmark

In Denmark, Template:Lang (Template:Gloss) is a sweet breakfast dish that can also be eaten as an afternoon treat or evening dessert. The Danish version of this dish uses sugar with cinnamon instead of plain sugar.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Finland

In Finland, Template:Lang (Template:Gloss) is a dessert made by frying slices of wheat bread soaked in milk. Sometimes, a dried bun (Template:Lang) is also used instead of wheat bread. An egg can also be mixed into milk and if desired, a little sugar and wheat flour can be added. The slices are dipped on both sides in the milk mixture before frying. Usually poor knights are eaten warm with jam and whipped cream. In some lunch restaurants, a dessert made of bun slices is called rich knights. This is to make a difference to the poor knights made of French bread or other light bread. The name rich knights comes from the whipped cream crown. The poor knights have no whipped cream.

France

In France, Template:Lang (Template:Gloss) has a wide range of regional variations.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Georgia

In Georgia, it is known as Template:Lang (Template:Lang-ka). It is a popular dish for brunch or breakfast and is almost always served as a savory dish. Sometimes different kinds of cheese are also combined.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Germany

In Germany, Template:Lang (Template:Gloss) or Template:Lang are at least known since the 14th century (mentioned in Deutsches Wörterbuch (The German Dictionary) by the Brothers Grimm).<ref>Template:Cite encyclopedia</ref>

Greece

In Greece, it is known as Template:Lang (Template:Langx) or Template:Lang (Template:Langx). This dish is a breakfast staple that involves dipping bread in scrambled eggs and frying it. It can be enjoyed in either a savory or sweet flavor profile, with a range of toppings and accompaniments, such as feta and honey.

Hong Kong

File:HKStyleFrenchtoast.jpg

Hong Kong-style French toast

Hong Kong–style French toast (Template:Lang-zh) is typically prepared by combining multiple slices of bread with peanut butter or fruit jam filling, then dipping in beaten egg and deep frying.<ref name=cnn>Template:Cite news</ref> It is served with butter, and topped with condensed milk, golden syrup or honey.<ref name=cnn/><ref name=liu>Template:Cite news</ref> It is a typical offering in cha chaan teng (Hong Kong–style diners or teahouses).<ref name=liu/> Other types of filling that can be found are meat floss, kaya jam, ham, or beef satay.<ref name=cnn/><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Hungary

File:Bundás kenyér.jpg

Bundás kenyér from Hungary

In Hungary, French toasts are called bundáskenyér ("furry bread") and are often eaten with garlic, cheese and sausage or ham. It is a popular breakfast item, mostly eaten next to a cup of tea.

India

In India, Bombay toast is a dish sold on the streets of Mumbai by hawkers and vendors,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Bombay toast is also called Sweet French Bread.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Generally, the term "French toast" is used in India for a non-sweetened dish with no dairy added to the egg batter. The egg-soaked bread is fried and may be flavored with salt, fried onions, green chilis, cilantro leaves, and other savory ingredients. It is often served with tomato ketchup (often chili-spiced ketchup) as a condiment.

Norway

In Norway, the dish is called Template:Lang (Template:Gloss). Once only a dessert dish, it is now eaten for brunch or breakfast. Most common spices are cinnamon and cardamom.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Singapore

French toast is a familiar menu item in the hawker centres of Singapore, where it is often part of a breakfast set with soft-boiled eggs or coconut jam (kaya).

Slovakia

In Slovakia, French toast is called chlieb vo vajci ("bread in egg") and is often prepared in a salted version. It is a popular breakfast food eaten with a cup of tea.

Spain

Template:Lang<ref name=slate/> is a similar recipe traditionally prepared in Spain for Lent and Holy Week. It is usually made by soaking stale bread in milk or wine with honey and spices. It is dipped in beaten egg and fried with olive oil. This cooking technique breaks down the fibres of the bread and results in a pastry with a crispy outside and smooth inside.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> It is often sprinkled with cinnamon as a final touch.

Template:Lang or Template:Lang were first mentioned by the Spanish composer, poet and playwright Juan del Encina (1468–1533) in his Template:Lang, published in 1496. Template:Lang has the following verse:

The Netherlands

In the Netherlands, French toast is called Template:Lang, Template:Lang (Template:Gloss), or Template:Lang (Template:Gloss). It is a sweet breakfast dish that can also be eaten as an afternoon treat or evening dessert. The Dutch version of this dish often uses sugar with cinnamon instead of plain sugar. Template:Lang are often associated with childhood, where a grandmother provides her grandchildren with a luxurious special sweet breakfast on special occasions.Template:Citation needed

United Kingdom and Ireland

In the UK and Ireland, it is also known as eggy bread or occasionally Gypsy toast, a name which dates back to the 14th and 15th centuries. It was also called pamperdy or poor knight's pudding. Eggy bread can be served as a sweet or savoury dish.<ref name="EggyBread">Template:Cite web</ref> The other names refer to the sweet version.<ref name="Mille"/> A commercial product known as French toast is sold in packets in supermarkets but this typically contains no egg and is more similar to Melba toast.<ref name="Tesco">Template:Cite web</ref>

United States

French toast was popularly served in railroad dining cars of the early and mid-20th century. The Santa Fe was especially known for its French toast, and some railroads provided recipes for these and other dining car offerings to the public as a promotional feature.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> The dish is commonly eaten with butter, powdered sugar, and maple syrup. Other toppings include jam, whipped cream, and fruit.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

New Orleans

In New Orleans Louisiana Creole cuisine, French toast is known as Template:Lang and is most commonly served as a breakfast dish.<ref name="Tabacca">Template:Cite web</ref> The recipe calls for New Orleans–style French bread; the batter is an egg-based custard that may include spirits.<ref name="Tabacca" /><ref name="Gumbo Pages">Template:Cite web</ref><ref name = "Mitzewich">Template:Cite web</ref> Common toppings include cane syrup, strongly flavored honey, or fruit syrups; a dusting of powdered sugar is also traditional.<ref name="Gumbo Pages" /><ref name="Mitzewich" />

See also

• Egg coated bread
• Egg in the basket
• List of bread dishes
• List of breakfast foods
• List of brunch foods
• List of egg dishes
• Monte Cristo sandwich
• Milk toast

Further reading

• Template:Cite book
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• Template:Cite book