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 an alternative 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. Nevertheless, we (Macedonians) name this “Przeni Lepcinja”, a.ok.a. fried bread slices, and never French Toast. In reality, the primary time I heard it referred to as that was after we got here to the States. Right here, in fact, French toast is called a candy brunch dish. However I really like the flavors on this savory model with eggs, milk, salty cheese, and contemporary herbs all soaked up into smooth, crusty slices of fried French bread.

Why I Love This French Toast Recipe

• Taste-packed. This recipe swaps the standard 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 different. These days, I really 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 every of our favourite “brinner” concepts (breakfast for dinner). Simply add a contemporary salad on the aspect!

Recipe Substances

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 might be as stale as doable the following day. I nonetheless do the identical each time I make this recipe! 

Listed below are some additional notes on what you’ll want. Scroll right down to the printable recipe card after the put up for the complete 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 just a little. I take advantage of 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 take advantage of complete milk.
• Contemporary Thyme – Chop the leaves from the sprigs. You need to use any contemporary herbs that you just like. Different good choices are rosemary, basil, chives, and oregano.
• Black Pepper – Freshly cracked.
• Feta Cheese – The perfect is crumbled feta. You might use one other grated cheese, like Parmesan or Pecorino, too.

Tips on how to Make Savory French Toast (Przeni Lepcinja)

Fried bread slices with feta are a core reminiscence. Once I was younger, we’d come house from Church, collect across the kitchen desk, and watch for Mother to ship the products. And boy, was it good!

Right here’s a fast overview of easy methods to make French toast the Macedonian method. This isn’t your common French toast, although whereas the elements are completely different, the strategy is identical. 

• 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. Ensure 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 scorching skillet or griddle with oil. Let the bread toast on both aspect 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 under for concepts.

Serving Options

A aspect of plain yogurt or Macedonian taratur is all you want as an alternative choice to maple syrup with this savory French toast. I additionally wish to dollop on some ajvar (purple pepper relish) as a result of it goes with all the things! I’ll often have it out anyway since one in every of my favourite brunch dishes to serve with this French toast is Macedonian shakshuka. In any other case, I’ll preserve it easy with a aspect 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 wish to heat this savory French toast both in a skillet once more, or in a heat oven to crisp up the skin. Normally 350ºF for 10 minutes or so does the trick.

Extra Savory Breakfast Recipes