Bombay Toast

Bombay Toast is a twist on the classic French toast, but it is also so much more. it’s a culinary mashup that combines the heady flavors of Indian cuisine with an American breakfast standby. Sliced bread is soaked in a rich, spiced egg mixture, fried to a perfect golden brown, and crowned with oozing with melted cheese.

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It’s a dish that transcends the usual breakfast boundaries, delivering both powerful spice and cheesy, golden-fried comfort.

I obviously love eggs, and I’m also nuts for the vibrant flavors of Indian cuisine. Bombay Toast is where these two deliciousnesses collide. As with all of the recipes here, egg is the star, but the spices, herbs, and cheese are what make this dish so irresistible. It’s my go-to when I’m serving breakfast or brunch to someone I really want to wow. I love that it’s a decadent and comforting brunch dish, but also a bit different from the usual. Oh, and it makes a great breakfast-for-dinner dish, too.

Why You’ll Love This Dish

If you love French toast and Indian food, you’re going to find lots of reasons to love this recipe. Here are a few of my reasons:

• Bombay Toast is a dish that was made for indulgent brunches, but also for quick, quiet breakfasts and even rushed family dinners.
• It’s quick and easy to make!
• The use of spices like cumin, chaat masala, turmeric, and Kashmiri chili gives it a burst of flavor.
• It’s a fun way to spice up your meal routine and introduce a new twist to your cooking repertoire.

Ingredients You Need

The ingredient list for Bombay Toast is a bit long when you list out all the spices, but if you cook Indian food, you likely have all of these in your cupboard. Here’s what you need to make the dish:

• Eggs and milk: The base of the batter, providing richness and a smooth texture.
• Red onion: Adds a slight crunch and sweetness; substitute with shallots for a milder flavor.
• Jalapeño or Serrano Pepper: Gives a spicy kick; adjust the amount based on your heat preference.
• Cilantro: Fresh and vibrant, essential for the authentic taste; parsley can be a subtle alternative.
• Spices (cumin, chaat masala, turmeric, Kashmiri chili, and salt): These are the heart of the dish, each bringing its unique flavor. Look for these in your regular supermarket or local Asian market. You can substitute with garam masala for the chaat masala and cayenne or another ground chili for the Kashmiri chili.
• Cheese: I like to use a sharp white cheddar, but you can use any cheese you like.  Monterey jack is a good melting cheese that would work well here, as is mozzarella. You could also try another flavorful cheese like gruyere or use a combination of cheeses.
• Bread: Sliced sandwich bread works best, soaking up all the flavors without falling apart. You can use sliced sourdough, multigrain, whole wheat, white, or country buttermilk bread. Brioche is a decadent but perfectly appropriate choice.

How to Make It

The process is straightforward but promises great results:

1. Prepare the egg mixture by whisking together eggs, milk, onion, chili, cilantro, and spices. Add cheese to this mixture.
2. Heat butter in a skillet. Meanwhile, soak the bread slices in the egg mixture, ensuring they’re well-coated.
3. Fry each soaked bread slice in the skillet until golden brown, adding more butter as needed.
4. Serve hot, ideally with cilantro-mint chutney for an extra layer of flavor.

What to Serve With It

Bombay Toast makes a perfect centerpiece dish for brunch, with fresh fruit served alongside. Serve it with Cilantro Mint Chutney for drizzling if you like. A side of bacon would certainly be a welcome addition.

Bombay Toast

Robin Donovan

Bombay Toast is a savory spin on French toast, infusing Indian spices, herbs, and cheese into the egg batter, creating a richly
flavored brunch dish that doubles as a hearty breakfast-for-dinner option. It's a simple yet bold take on classic comfort food.

5 from 11 votes

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 10 minutes mins

Cook Time 5 minutes mins

Total Time 15 minutes mins

Cuisine Indian

Servings 4 servings

Ingredients

  

1x2x3x

• 6 large eggs lightly beaten
• ⅓ cup whole milk
• ¼ red onion finely diced
• 1 red or green jalapeño or serrano pepper finely diced
• ½ cup chopped cilantro
• 1 teaspoon kosher salt
• ½ teaspoon ground cumin
• ½ teaspoon chaat masala
• ¼ teaspoon ground turmeric
• ¼ teaspoon ground Kashmiri chili
• 4 ounces shredded cheese sharp white cheddar, Monterey jack cheese, mozzarella
• 8 slices sandwich bread
• 2 tablespoons butter
• Cilantro-Mint Chutney for serving

Instructions

 

• In a wide, shallow bowl or baking dish, whisk together the eggs, milk, onion, chili pepper, cilantro, salt, cumin, chaat masala, turmeric, and chili powder. Stir in both kinds of cheese.
• Melt 1 tablespoon of the butter in a large skillet set over medium heat.
• Soak each slice of bread in the egg mixture for about 20 seconds, pushing it down to make sure it is fully covered. Scoop some of the
  cheese, onions, etc. onto each slice and then transfer it to the skillet.
  Depending on the size of your skillet, you should be able to cook 3 or 4 slices at a time.
• Cook for about 3 minutes, until the bottom is golden brown and
  crisp. Flip the bread over, adding more butter to the skillet as needed, and then cook for another 2 or 3 minutes, until the second side is golden brown and crisp.
• Serve hot with cilantro mint chutney.

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