Savory French Toast with Fresh Tomato Relish

By bakers_delight85

Ingredients

• Fresh Tomato Relish:
• 2 cups halved tiny tomatoes, such as cherry, pear, or Sweet 100s, preferably a combination of red and yellow or other colors
• 2 to 3 tsp. vegetable oil
• 2 Tbsp. minced red onion
• 2 Tbsp. minced fresh parsley
• Salt and freshly cracked black pepper to taste
• Savory French Toast:
• 4 large eggs
• 1/2 cup whole milk
• 1 tsp. brown, Dijon, or yellow mustard
• 1/4 tsp. salt
• 1/4 tsp. freshly cracked black pepper
• 8 large but thin slices rye or sourdough bread, or even sturdy split corn bread squares
• 1/4 pound plain, chive, or scallion cream cheese, softened
• 8 thin slices smoked turkey, ham, mortadella, or corned beef, at room temperature
• Unsalted butter
• Vegetable oil

Details

Servings 4

Preparation

Step 1

Preheat the oven to 300 degrees F. Butter a baking sheet. Prepare the relish, combine the ingredients in a small bowl. Reserve at room temperature. Prepare the French toast, first whisking together the eggs, milk, mustard, salt, and pepper in a shallow dish. Spread one side of each slice of bread with 1 Tbsp. of the cream cheese. Top the first piece of bread with 2 meat slices, and top each with another slice of bread. Skewer each with a couple of toothpicks. Repeat to make 4 double-decker French toasts. Dunk the stuffed bread slices into the egg mixture and soak them briefly, turning to coat evenly, until saturated but short of falling apart. Warm 1 Tbsp. butter and 1 Tbsp. oil together on a griddle or in a large heavy skillet over medium heat. Cook the French toast in batches, about 3 minutes per side, turning once, until golden brown and lightly crisp, with melted cheese. Place the first slices on the baking sheet and keep them warm in the oven. Continue cooking the remaining slices, adding more butter and oil as needed. When all the French toast is cooked, transfer it to plates. Spoon equal portions of the relish over each.