Easy Eats: Savoury French Toast with Herbs, Ham and Cheese

Here's a new spin on a 'breakfast for dinner' favourite.

Kelly GibneyChef
  • prepare
  • cook
  • 2-3 servings
  • Easy
A plate of Savoury French toast with ham and wholegrain mustard, garnished with tomato salad.
Caption:Why have eggs on toast for dinner when you can have French toast?Photo credit:Kelly Gibney

Eggs are an easy dinner option midweek - especially if you use them to create a savoury spin on French toast.

This is an flavour-packed version where eggs are whisked together with parsley, ham, cheese and a little mustard. Thick slices of bread are then soaked briefly before being pan-fried. A very simple little tomato salad makes for a lovely topping.

Ingredients

  • 4 eggs, lightly whisked
  • 1/3 cup milk
  • 1 cup grated cheese
  • 100g ham, roughly chopped
  • ½ - 1 tsp wholegrain mustard (according to preference)
  • A large handful of fresh parsley, roughly chopped
  • ½ teaspoon onion powder (optional)
  • ½ teaspoon garlic powder (optional)
  • 6 slices bread (preferably thick slices)
  • 1 punnet cherry tomatoes, quartered (for the salad)
  • 1 tsp red wine or balsamic vinegar (for the salad)
  • 2 tsp extra virgin olive oil (for the salad)
  • Handful fresh basil, roughly chopped (for the salad)
  • Oil, for frying
  • Sea salt and black pepper, to season

Instructions

  1. Combine the eggs, milk, cheese, ham and mustard and parsley. Also add in the onion powder and garlic powder if using. Mix really well. Season with a little salt and pepper.
  2. Add a couple of pieces of bread to soak. If using a thick, hearty bread like sourdough, you’ll want to soak for a couple of minutes. A more regular toast slice of bread, will only need 30-60 seconds.
  3. Heat a drizzle of oil in a pan over a medium heat. Add the first two slices of bread (space in pan depending). Some of the chopped ham and grated cheese can slide off the bread when you pull it out of the egg mixture. Wait till the soaked bread is cooking in the pan and spoon a little more of the mixture on top if needed. Cook bead on both sides until browned. Repeat the process until you’ve used all the bread.
  4. Mix the cherry tomatoes with the vinegar, extra virgin olive oil and basil. Add a good seasoning of salt and pepper.
  5. Serve the French toast with a spoonful of tomato salad on top.

More from Food

Other Life sections:

Back to RNZ home