Carly DeFilippo knows exactly what do do with all that “lost bread”. Meet Pain Perdu.
By Carly DeFilippo
Pain Perdu (literally “lost bread”) is the original version of “French toast”, in which stale bread becomes a canvas for various leftovers. I prefer it savory and pan-fried with tangy, soft cheese and herbs. 
Pain Perdu (Savory French Toast)
- Total Time: 10 minutes
- Yield: 1-2 1x
Description
Pain Perdu (literally “lost bread”) is the original version of “French toast”, in which stale bread becomes a canvas for various leftovers. I prefer it savory and pan-fried with tangy, soft cheese and herbs.
Ingredients
- stale bread, (ideally sourdough)
- 2 eggs
- a splash of milk
- herbs (I prefer sage or thyme)
- 1/4 cup tangy, soft cheese (sheep or goat’s cheese is best)
- salt/pepper
- butter
Instructions
- Cut stale bread into ½ – 1 inch slices.
- Crack eggs into a bowl, add a splash of milk, cheese, salt & pepper to taste.
- Heat butter in a skillet until it turns nutty-brown.
- While butter is heating, beat egg/cheese mixture until relatively smooth.
- Dip bread slices into egg wash, let soak for a few seconds on each side.
- Once pan is hot and butter nutty-brown, start adding egg-washed slices of bread to the pan. (If you have extra egg-wash, you can just pour it into the pan with the bread. As you move the bread around/flip it, it will absorb more of the egg).
- Rip or sprinkle herbs over the bread.
- Flip toast and press down with spatula, ensuring that it browns on both sides. (If your bread is sliced thick, you can cover your pan, to ensure the egg cooks through properly).
- Once the bread is golden-brown on each side, serve to your eager guests (or yourself!).
Notes
I prefer sourdough bread, but any hearty bread with more inside than crust will work well.
This recipe can be adapted to use really any herbs or cheese, as long as you have enough egg-wash to properly soak the bread.
- Prep Time: 5 mins
- Cook Time: 5 mins
