Ube French Toast

A perfect harmony between our classic favorite and a local Filipino taste. Any morning will taste better with this ube French toast! Even though this dish sounds too fancy, you can whip it up in just a few minutes. You can experience a superb fusion of flavor and texture in every bite in two to three minutes. They’re brimming with a buttery, creamy taste, with a delightful oozing flavor of ube.  

What is Ube French Toast

French toast is referred to as "lost bread" in France. This dish serves as a way to revive pieces of bread that have gone stale. It is typically made by dipping old, forgotten slices of bread in a sweet, custardy egg-milk mixture, giving them a new life by pan-frying them in butter and serving them with a drizzle of maple syrup. French toast, like any other globally recognized food, has undergone numerous modifications and variations, including this Ube-filled one.

For those unsure of what ube is, ube, also known as taro root and purple yam, it is a type of root crop you can typically find on farms. It is generally made into candies in our province in the Philippines. It can also be made into a flavorful sweet spread or jam that you could use as a filling, topping, or flavoring.

But now, seeing more and more international recipes created in collaboration with our local ube makes me even prouder, because who would have thought that our traditional Filipino favorite could become a delectable global trend? It has made a name for itself by being used in various local and international recipes. Most of the dishes are given a new twist and not the traditional desserts that we represent and inherited from our ancestors. This includes this ube french toast that everyone will surely love.

So in case, you do not have an ube jam, it is now time for you to buy one so we can start making our ube french toast!

How to Make Ube French Toast

1.To prepare your egg-milk mixture, combine sugar, eggs, and milk in a bowl and whisk them together until well blended. Set it aside until all the flavors come together while you are preparing the rest of the ingredients.

2. Put one slice of bread on a flat surface and spread evenly a generous amount of ube jam, starting from the center. When done, cover it with another slice of bread, forming a sandwich.

3. Meanwhile, heat a nonstick skillet over medium heat. Add some butter and let it melt. This is the right time to get your sweet egg-milk mixture and dip your ube bread in it until fully covered.

4. Sear bread in a pan fully covered with butter. Let it brown a little on both sides, giving it a crispy brown crust and edges while still moist and creamy on the inside. Remove the bread after 2-3 minutes.

5. Serve it on a plate, slice it diagonally and garnish it with some toasted coconut and a drizzle of maple syrup.

6. Serve immediately and enjoy it with your favorite coffee and some fresh fruit.

Tools

• Choose the right pan for pan-frying your ube french toast. I recommend you use a nonstick pan or skillet. Something thick and durable enough that it will not leave you with a dark crust and an undercooked interior.
• If you plan to slice your Ube French toast diagonally, you need to use a sharp knife or bread knife to prevent it from getting deformed due to its soft texture.

Notes

• Though this sounds like an exquisite recipe due to its name, it is actually versatile and can be made into different varieties, whether sweet or savory.
• You can make it more Filipino by adding cheese to your ube filling before dipping it in the egg-milk mixture.
• For a sweeter note, you can add ube ice cream on top and some mixed nuts for an ube overload experience.
• Others also add a tsp of cinnamon powder to your egg-milk mixture to mask the eggy taste and smell.
• Depending on what is available in your pantry, you can use different types of bread.
• Instead of pan-frying it, you can also cook this in a waffle maker or panini press. This is perfect for those looking for some crispy edges and a brown exterior.
• Some add a dash or sprinkle of powdered sugar and cinnamon powder instead of maple syrup. It doesn’t matter what you use as long as it gives you the sweetness you are craving.
• Ube French toast is not only served as brunch but can also be your after-meal dessert. It can also be brought to camping, picnics, and even tea parties with friends.
• Leftovers are okay, just store them in an airtight container and store them in the refrigerator. It can last up to 2 days, but make sure to reheat it again before serving.
• Please avoid soaking your bread in the egg-milk mixture for too long, as this will result in a soggy and overly soft toast.