Imagine this: you wake up on a crisp and cozy autumn morning and whip up a batch of warm and hearty Spiced Islands French Toast. This nutritious and tasty dish is the perfect way to start your morning off right, helping you feel energized and nourished for the rest of the day.
Our Spiced Islands French Toast recipe is filled with healthy ingredients like turmeric, ginger, and cinnamon that have health-enhancing and mood-boosting benefits, making it an excellent alternative to your regular breakfast choice. You deserve to begin each day with a nutritious and delicious meal!
Keep reading, and we'll share our Spice Islands French Toast recipe - a delicious and healthy autumn breakfast!
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See Related: Turmeric Tea: Recipes, Benefits, & More
Spiced Islands French Toast
This Spice Islands French Toast recipe is a unique and delicious combination of tradition and flavor. It's inspired by jamu wellness customs, a traditional way of life that blends ritualistic self-care, herbal remedies, and holistic health practices.
The jamu lifestyle was born over 2,000 years ago in the lush archipelago of Indonesia. It initially started as a type of herbal tonic made by community healers and female family members.
Jamu tonics are typically made with spices like turmeric and ginger, which are well-known and widely revered for their various health benefits. Jamu tonics are usually consumed to prevent or treat illness and support overall health.
Even today, it is a popular beverage for those looking to enhance their self-care routine.
This Spice Islands French Toast recipe contains ingredients like turmeric, ginger, and coconut sugar, which are often used to brew jamu. It contains other spices like cinnamon, which add additional flavor and warmth. Lastly, it features coconut sugar, which adds a sweet touch and has a lower glycemic impact than traditional sweeteners.
However, these spices aren't just for taste. They have numerous health benefits that draw upon centuries of knowledge from regions like Indonesia and India.
This classic and delicious recipe blends warm spices and rich traditions to create a healthy and hearty dish, perfect for a weekend breakfast or filling lunch. The spices make this dish a very nutritious and tasty way to start the day.
How to Make French Toast
French toast is made by coating thick slices of bread in an egg custard. For this recipe, stale or thick bread slices work best, as they can absorb just enough egg custard to become soft and fluffy without becoming oversaturated or soggy.
When coating your bread in the egg mixture, only leave each side in the egg mixture for 10 to 20 seconds. Any longer will cause the bread to fall apart.
When cooking your French toast, be sure to use a non-stick pan.
The Recipe
Servings: 4
Prep time: 10 mins
Cook time: 5 mins
Total time: 15 mins
Ingredients
- 4 slices of bread (stale or thick-cut bread works best)
- 2 large eggs
- 3/4 cup milk (for soft and custardy texture)
- 1 tbsp coconut sugar (adjust to taste for light sweetness)
- 1/2 tsp ground turmeric
- 1/4 tsp ground ginger
- Pinch of black pepper (to enhance the absorption of turmeric)
- 1/4 tsp ground cinnamon (to balance the flavors)
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- Pinch of salt
- 1 tbsp butter
- Maple syrup, powdered sugar, or fresh fruit (optional for serving)
Instructions
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Prepare the egg mixture: In a shallow bowl, whisk together the eggs, milk, coconut sugar, turmeric, ginger, black pepper, cinnamon, vanilla extract, and salt until smooth.
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Soak the bread: Dip each slice of bread into the spiced egg mixture, letting it absorb for about 10-20 seconds per side.
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Preheat the pan: Warm a non-stick skillet over medium heat to melt the butter. Be sure to coat the pan with butter.
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Cook the French toast: Place the soaked bread in the pan and cook for 2-3 minutes on each side until golden brown. The spice blend will give the toast a rich color and warm fragrance.
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Serve: Serve hot with your choice of toppings like maple syrup, a dusting of powdered sugar, or fresh fruit to enhance the flavors of the spiced toast.
Alternative Ingredients
The beauty of this recipe is that you are able to adjust the ingredients to create a unique dish. There are a few ways to do that.
Experiment with butter alternatives, such as;
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Coconut oil: Coconut oil adds a tropical touch to your dish and is rich in healthy fats.
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Ghee: Ghee has a nutty and rich flavor that perfectly complements the spices in this Spice Islands French Toast. It's also a great option for those with dairy sensitivities.
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Olive oil: Olive oil also goes well with the spices in this recipe and is a good choice for supporting heart health.
Adding additional spices such as cloves, cardamom, nutmeg, or chai is a great way to enhance and brighten this meal.
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Cloves: Cloves have a strong yet warm flavor that can add depth to your dish.
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Cardamom: Cardamom pairs perfectly with the turmeric and cinnamon in this recipe.
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Nutmeg: Nutmeg has a sweet yet nutty flavor that makes the dish a bit more comforting and soothing.
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Chai: A chai spice blend can add a bit more depth and flavor to your Spice Islands French Toast.
Bonus: How To Make Easy Homemade Cinnamon Tea (Hot Or Iced)
Health Benefits
The warm and vibrant spices in this recipe aren't just for flavor and taste. They boast immense and amazing health benefits that can help improve your overall wellness.
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Turmeric: Turmeric, also known as the golden spice, has powerful anti-inflammatory properties and has been a staple in jamu healing rituals for centuries.
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Ginger: Ginger and turmeric are often paired together and can be used to relieve pain, brighten skin (when applied topically), and support gut health.
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Coconut sugar: Unlike white sugar, coconut sugar has a low glycemic index and is an excellent alternative to traditional sweeteners.
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Cinnamon: Cinnamon is loaded with antioxidants and can help protect against disease and inflammation.
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Black pepper: Black pepper is essential, as it helps the body absorb the curcumin in turmeric.
The Bottom Line
This Spice Islands French Toast recipe is made with warm and flavorful spices that will make your morning routine far more enjoyable and healthy. We recommend eating it alongside a glass of fresh jamu or a mug of steaming green tea (such as our Soothing Island Comfort Green Tea.)
If you love this recipe and want to try more jamu-inspired dishes, check out Jamu Lifestyle: Indonesian Herbal Wellness Tradition. This beautiful and informative book was penned by Metta Murdaya, the co-founder of JUARA, and was even a winner of the Gourmand Awards 2023.
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