Torrijas: traditional recipe with milk, sugar and cinnamon
Who does not like French toast? Also known by the names of torreja or toast, we are without any doubt before a wonderful dessert characteristic of the celebrations as much of Lent as of Holy Week in Spain, although it is certain that they are ideal to enjoy in definite in practically any moment of the year, by its wide versatility, by its flavor, for its aroma ... and because they are delicious !. They can be eaten accompanied with honey or simply sprinkled with sugar.
But, what are they? Basically we could say that a torrija is a slice of bread soaked in milk with honey and spices, which is breaded in egg and finally fried in a pan with plenty of oil. It is common that these torrijas are then flavored with cinnamon and sweetened with honey, sugar or syrup.
In Spain it is a dessert very associated with Lent, possibly because of the need that existed a few centuries ago to take advantage of leftover bread that was less consumed when meat could not be eaten.
A bit of history: the origin of the torrijas
It is a sweet dish that can be found in a large part of Europe, where its presence has been documented since the Middle Ages. For example, already in the fourteenth century the popular cookbook of Taillevent tituado Le viander name the recipe for golden toasts, which consisted of a dish dipped in beaten egg yolk before passing them through the pan and sprinkling them with sugar.
In fact, in our country this dessert is documented in the fifteenth century, cited by the popular poet and musician Juan del Encina (or Juan de Fermoselle), when he talks about a dish based on "honey and many eggs to make torrejas", and ideal as a dish for the recovery of parturients.
However, it is not until 1607 when we find the first recipes, cited by Domingo Hernández de Maceras in his Book of Cozina, and shortly after in the year 1611 by Francisco Martínez Motiño in his book Art of cozina, pastry, biscuit and canning.
Traditional torrijas recipe: how to make them at home?
To prepare the delicious traditional torrijas you will need the following ingredients:
Ingredients for the torrijas:
- Several slices of hard bread (homemade or field bread, preferably a day or two before).
- Half a liter of milk
- 125 gr. of sugar + Sugar to sprinkle on top.
- 3 eggs.
- 1 cinnamon stick
- Cinnamon powder.
- Extra virgin olive oil
Ingredients for the syrup:
- 1 tablespoon of sweet white wine
- Half a liter of water.
- 125 gr. of sugar.
- 1 tablespoon of honey
And what are the steps to follow? We explain them to you next:
First cut the hard bread into several slices. Reserve them. Put the milk, sugar and cinnamon stick in a saucepan or pan. Cook the milk for a few minutes so that it acquires the aroma and flavor of cinnamon. Then remove the cinnamon stick (being careful not to burn yourself).
Put the slices in a large bowl and pour the hot milk over them to soak enough.
Meanwhile, beat the eggs in a large bowl. Now let's prepare the syrup: put a saucepan on the fire and add the white sweet wine, water, sugar and the spoonful of honey stirring little by little and carefully until a kind of syrup forms.
Put a good amount of olive oil in a pan and light the fire to let it heat up. When the syrup is ready turn off the fire and remove it.
Let's proceed to make the torrijas: coat the slices of bread in the beaten egg and fry them little by little in the very hot pan, until golden on both sides. As you go out of the pan pass them to the container with the syrup, and finally goes to another tray.
To finish, sprinkle a little sugar and a pinch of cinnamon powder over the slices and a pinch of cinnamon. To enjoy!. ThemesEaster Recipes
