What Makes French Toast Different In Portugal And Brazil
Whether you're making breakfast or breakfast for dinner, French toast is always a good choice. Not only is French toast relatively easy to make (requiring, at the very least, only three ingredients), but it's also endlessly customizable. You can add spices, fruit, or cream cheese. Anything. The world is your oyster.
Speaking of the world, other countries have their own spin on what Americans know as "French toast." According to Cookist, French toast in France uses day-old brioche, which is then soaked in a vanilla custard. In China, bread is slathered with peanut butter before being soaked and fried, and in Britain, French toast is commonly topped with Marmite or ketchup.
However, some of the most enticing versions of French toast are those of Portugal and Brazil. Their holiday-ready recipe, called Rabanadas, takes everything we know and love about French toast to a whole new level. We might have to try this version out for ourselves this holiday season.
Portuguese-Brazilian French toast is beyond decadent
If you thought the American version of French toast was a sweet treat, prepare to have your mind blown. According to TasteAtlas, Portugal and Brazil's Rabanadas are frequently served as a holiday dessert, so you know it's something really special.
Preparation of Rabanadas differs slightly from the preparation of French toast, in that you soak stale bread in sweetened or condensed milk, followed by dipping it in egg. The bread is then fried in oil (whereas American French toast is more commonly fried in butter). Once fried, the bread gets tossed in cinnamon sugar for the ultimate flavorful crunch and drizzled with honey or syrup.
Because Rabanadas are a holiday dish — inspired by Spain's Holy Week torrijas, per Curious Cuisinière – they are typically enjoyed with port wine. You know, in case this treat needed to be any more decadent than it already is. Needless to say, if you love French toast, this version is a delicious option for you to try out around the holidays.