Indian Style Savory Masala French Toast
I love the title of this post – “Indian Style French” says so much about the culture and nature of food. I grew up eating this Indian style savory masala French toast and could not have thought, in my wildest imagination, that French toast could be sweet. My mom used to make a sweeter version of this toast but it was not called French toast – it was just Meethi bread (literally translates in to sweet bread). There were no eggs involved. It was white bread dipped in a mixture of milk, sugar and green cardamom powder, shallow fried on a tava (flat cast iron skillet) with lots of ghee (recipe here). Thinks of it as a much simpler and quicker version of Shahi Tukda (recipe here).
Moving from India to the United States has taught me so much about many different aspects of life. Food being one of the greatest ones of them. I have shared my feelings about how food and recipes blur the lines around regions and borders. It is liberating in many ways. I was amazed to see that most of the breakfast items in the United States are sweet. This was a big cultural shock to me as we were brought up on savory breakfasts – paranthas, omelettes, savory french toast, poha, upma, etc etc. The only sweet component would be some jam or jelly to accompany a toast or parantha. So you can imagine my surprise at seeing doughnuts, muffins, waffles, pancakes and so on. Not to forget the French toast dusted with powdered sugar and drizzled with syrup.
Over the years, we have adapted to “American” breakfast style a bit. We love muffins (like these blueberry muffins or these pumpkin pecan muffins), granola (recipe here) and pancakes. But, I have to admit, that I am still a sucker for savory breakfasts. Hence these Indian style savory masala French toasts.
Recipe Run Down
A good bread is the backbone for this recipe. Though this masala french toast is usually made with regular white bread, I have experimented with more hearty, textured breads recently. I have found a good whole wheat bread cut into thick slices works great. Using whole wheat also pumps up the nutrition factor. Beat eggs with a splash of milk or cream and “masala” seasonings like coriander and cumin powders along with a touch of garam masala. Mix in finely chopped onions, tomatoes, ginger, cilantro and green chilis (optional). Dip a slice of bread in the egg mixture and cook on a flat skillet with butter. Serve with ketchup. YUMM!
Here is a handy dandy printable.
Indian Style Savory Masala French Toast
Ingredients
- 6 slices Whole wheat bread
- 4 Eggs
- 1 tablespoon Milk/Cream optional
- Salt and freshly cracked black pepper to taste
- 1 teaspoon coriander powder
- ½ teaspoon cumin powder
- A pinch garam masala
- 1 medium Onion finely chopped aboul ½ cup
- 1 small firm tomato finely chopped about 1/3 cup
- 5 sprigs cilantro leaves stripped and chopped
- 1 green chili minced optional
- ½ tablespoon finely chopped or grated fresh ginger
- Salted butter/Olive oil – to cook
Instructions
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Take a wide, shallow dish and whisk the eggs with a splash of milk/cream. Add all the spices, salt and pepper and whisk. Whisk in the chopped veggies. Your egg masala to coat the bread slices is ready.
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Set a cast iron skillet (or other heavy bottomed skillet) on medium high heat. Once hot, lower the heat to medium.
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Take a slice of bread and soak it in the egg mixture for about 5 seconds on each side.
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Add a tab of butter (about a teaspoon) or olive oil to the pan and carefully slide the egg masala coated bread slice in to the pan. You might have to spoon some onions and tomatoes onto the bread if they have slipped off.
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Cook the toast on medium heat for about 2-3 minutes and then flip and cook till the egg mixture on the other side is done. Add more butter if needed. Butter makes the edges of the bread crispy. Yum.
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Repeat with all the slices.
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Serve hot with tomato ketchup and a cup of coffee.
Recipe Notes
If making it for kids, skip green chilis Extra egg mixture can be made into an omelet
I hope you will give this version of French toast a try and like it.
Love – Vaishali.
Tools used:
Knives: 
Measuring Cups: 
Cast Iron Skillet: 
Melissa
August 30, 2018 at 11:19 amThat looks amazing! I am always looking for new recipes to try!
Juli
August 30, 2018 at 11:33 amThis looks like something that I could try this weekend. Looks so delicious as well.
Aestheticcontradiction
August 30, 2018 at 4:13 pmThis looks so good! I’ll add it to my list of thing to make!
Cassie
August 30, 2018 at 8:41 pmThis looks so good!
Bunmies Healthy Choices
August 30, 2018 at 10:57 pmThanks for sharing this. You always share such great recipes, I’ll be trying this soon.
Sheena Moncatar
August 31, 2018 at 3:00 amOh, I miss Indian food. I can’t have it here because I don’t know of a good Indian restaurant in this part of the world that I am in. However, whenever I am down south of Thailand specifically in Songkhla, there’s a small restaurant owned by an Indian couple. Pretty small but very popular in the area. Thanks for this post and the recipe!
Kristina @ Spirit of the soul
August 31, 2018 at 12:32 pmThis looks so good. I’m going to try this recipe.
FlySoulmates
August 31, 2018 at 3:17 pmWow,
I never heard about Indian style Masala french toast.
Thanks for sharing the article. I’ll check try it during weekend
Jack Lim
August 31, 2018 at 9:33 pmLooks so delicious
Sreekar
September 1, 2018 at 1:01 amMy wife is a huge fan of your blog and she loved this recipe. She says thanks!
Vaishali
September 1, 2018 at 2:50 pmThanks Sreekar and please convey my appreciation to your wife.
Linh
September 2, 2018 at 7:53 amIt looks so cool! Just looking at it whetted my appetite. Can’t wait to buy all the tools and make a dish myself!
Jeferson
September 2, 2018 at 11:39 amMasala is so versatile…… I have it as tea….. Soothing aroma……. And delightful for the taste bud……..
charu sharma
September 2, 2018 at 2:12 pmwow! great recipe! I would love to make it for my daughter but with less masala. I am sure that we can experiment with more veggies in it. Do let me know if you have more idea about this.
Blair Villanueva
September 2, 2018 at 11:30 pmWow your masala look delicious, I can’t help staring at it!
Everything On A Plate
September 3, 2018 at 12:33 pmWe never thought of giving the french toast an indian twist
Meygan @ AllTheRooms
September 3, 2018 at 1:55 pmThis looks absolutely amazing! This is my kind of french toast. By the way, I really love that you show the kitchen appliances and cooking utensils needed. Great idea!
Vaishali
September 3, 2018 at 1:56 pmThanks Meygan!
Nina Nichols
September 3, 2018 at 2:30 pmI love French toast but this is the first time I heard of this version. Looks like worth a try, 🙂
Swati
September 3, 2018 at 2:55 pmGreat! My recipe is also almost the same with a little variation. Thank you for nice breakfast recipe.
prabashi
September 3, 2018 at 4:27 pmthis looks amazing. This is something i always wondered if it would taste good.
Fibi Drese
September 4, 2018 at 9:54 amWow, Yummy. Your pizza look very delicious. I would like to try them all:)