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Vegetarian, Classics and bistro fare

Savory French Toast with Cheese and Salad

Savory French toast with cheese is made from 8 slices of stale bread soaked in an egg and milk custard, pan fried until golden, then topped with melted Emmental and served with a green salad. It feeds 4 people in 30 minutes, rated very easy, at about €1.30 per person. The key is using stale bread, which soaks up the custard without falling apart.

No sugar tonight, French toast goes savory, golden in the pan and topped with melted cheese, and it disappears fast.

Savory French Toast with Cheese and Salad
Total time
30 min
Difficulty
Very easy
Cost per person
€1.30
Calories per person
520 kcalcalculated by Kiloach, your weight coach
Season
Fall, Winter, Spring
The kids
They generally like it

Forget the sweet version, here French toast goes fully savory. The bread turns soft and custardy inside while staying golden and crisp outside, and the melted cheese on top gives it that broiled, bubbly finish that makes the dish. Nutmeg and black pepper give the custard some depth, a world away from the sugary breakfast version most people know.

This is the kind of dinner you throw together on a weeknight without much planning, using bread that has been sitting around for a couple of days and whatever Emmental is left in the fridge. Kids love the melty cheese and golden crust, and the whole family eats well without a complicated shopping list. The salad on the side brings just enough freshness to balance the richness.

The ingredients

4 people

Bakery

  • Stale sandwich bread or country bread 8 slices

Dairy

  • Eggs 4
  • Milk 20 cl
  • Shredded Emmental cheese 120 g
  • Butter 30 g

Fruits and vegetables

  • Green salad 1

Pantry

  • Olive oiloften in the pantry 2 tbsp
  • Cider vinegaroften in the pantry 1 tbsp
  • Nutmegoften in the pantry 1 pinch
  • Saltoften in the pantry 1 pinch
  • Pepperoften in the pantry 1 pinch

Allergens Gluten, Lactose, Eggs

The step by step recipe

  1. Beat the eggs with the milk, nutmeg, salt and pepper in a shallow dish.

    Go heavy on the pepper, savory French toast needs some backbone.

  2. Dip the bread slices for a few seconds on each side so they soak up the custard without falling apart.

    Count one second per side for fresh bread and three seconds for stale bread.

  3. Brown the slices in butter over medium heat, two minutes on each side. 8 min

    Once the butter smells nutty, that's your cue to flip.

  4. Place the slices on a baking sheet, cover with Emmental and broil until the cheese bubbles. 5 min

    Stay by the oven, the broiler turns golden into burnt in seconds.

  5. Dress the salad with the oil, vinegar and salt, and serve alongside the hot French toast.

    A splash of vinegar on the salad balances the richness of the cheese.

Our tips to get it right

  • Press the bread slices lightly after dipping to squeeze out extra liquid, they will brown better in the pan.
  • Use a large enough skillet or cook in two batches, the slices need room to brown without overlapping.
  • Preheat the broiler before you start pan frying, so you can move straight from stovetop to oven.

The variations

  • Swap the Emmental for Comté or Gruyère for a sharper flavor.
  • Fry some bacon bits in the pan and scatter them over the bread before the cheese for a heartier version.
  • Cut the broiled slices into strips before serving, so kids can easily pick them up with their hands.

What to serve it with

  • Tomato salad in summer
  • Vegetable soup as a starter
  • Applesauce for kids

Storage

Savory French toast keeps for 2 days in the fridge in a sealed container. Reheat it for a few minutes in the oven or a skillet to bring back the crispness. Freezing isn't recommended, the bread texture suffers.

Questions about this dish

What kind of bread works best for savory French toast?

Sandwich bread or country bread that is two or three days old works best. It soaks up the egg custard without falling apart, unlike fresh bread, which is too soft.

Can you make the custard ahead of time?

Yes, you can whisk the eggs, milk and spices the night before and keep the mixture in the fridge. Just dip the bread and cook it right before serving.

Can you use a different cheese instead of Emmental?

Yes, Comté, Gruyère or even cheddar all work well. Pick a cheese that melts easily under the broiler.

How do you make this dish kid friendly?

Cut the broiled slices into sticks or triangles so kids can eat them with their fingers. You can also go lighter on the pepper if your kids don't like strongly seasoned food.

How long does it take to make a savory French toast with cheese and a side salad?

Count 30 min in total, prep and cooking included. The recipe is rated “very easy”.

How many calories are in a savory French toast with cheese and a side salad?

About 520 kcal per serving, for a recipe meant for 4 people. Calories are calculated by Kiloach, your weight coach, the app that partners with Mon Chou.

How much does a savory French toast with cheese and a side salad cost?

About €1.30 per serving, or €5.20 for 4 people, based on average supermarket prices.

What allergens does this recipe contain?

This recipe contains gluten, lactose, eggs. Always check the labels of the products you buy.

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