Pain Perdu

By Odile

Ingredients

• 1/2 pint fresh strawberries, hulled and sliced
• 2 tablespoons sugar, divided
• 3 tablespoons orange liqueur (recommended: Grand Marnier), divided
• 6 extra-large eggs
• 1 1/2 cups milk or half-and-half
• 2 tablespoons honey
• 1 1/2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
• 1 teaspoon grated orange zest
• 2 teaspoons kosher salt
• 1 large brioche loaf or challah
• Unsalted butter
• Vegetable oil
• 1/2 cup (1 1/2 ounces) sliced blanched almonds, toasted
• Confectioners' sugar, to serve

Details

Servings 6
Preparation time 30mins
Cooking time 45mins
Adapted from foodnetwork.com

Preparation

Step 1

Combine the sliced strawberries, 1 tablespoon of the sugar, and 1 tablespoon of the orange liqueur in a small bowl and set aside.

Preheat the oven to 250 degrees F.

In a large bowl, whisk together the eggs, milk, honey, 1 tablespoon of sugar, 2 tablespoons orange liqueur, the vanilla, orange zest, and salt. Slice the bread in 3/4-inch slices. Pour the egg mixture into a large shallow plate and soak a few slices of bread for 4 minutes, turning once.

Heat 1 tablespoon each of butter and oil in a very large saute pan over medium heat. Take each slice of bread from the egg mixture, dip one side in the toasted almonds, and place in the saute pan, almond side down. (While you're cooking each batch, add more bread to the egg mixture to soak.)

Cook for 2 to 3 minutes on each side, until nicely browned. Place the cooked bread on a baking sheet and keep it warm in the oven. Wipe out the pan with a dry paper towel, add more butter and oil, and continue to fry the remaining soaked bread until they're all cooked. Sprinkle with confectioners' sugar and serve hot with the strawberries.