Italian-Style Stuffed French Toast
Filling
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
2 cloves garlic, minced
6 ounces (about 4 cups loosely packed) baby spinach
½ cup whole-milk ricotta cheese
¼ cup grated parmesan cheese
1 teaspoon finely grated lemon zest (from 1 small lemon)
1 tablespoon chopped basil leaves (or 1 teaspoon dried basil)
1 tablespoon chopped oregano leaves (or 1 teaspoon dried oregano)
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
French toast
1 loaf (1-pound) soft whole-wheat French bread, cut into eight 1½-inch-thick slices
3 large eggs
½ cup low-fat milk
¼ teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon garlic powder
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
About 2 cups store-bought or homemade marinara sauce, for serving
For the filling: Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the garlic and cook for about 30 seconds, stirring, until fragrant. Add the spinach and cook for a few minutes, just until it has wilted. Let cool, then coarsely chop and transfer to a medium bowl.
Add the ricotta and parmesan cheeses, lemon zest, basil and oregano, stirring until well incorporated. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
For the French toast: Use a small serrated knife to cut a horizontal pocket in the side of each slice of bread. Carefully fill with 1 to 2 tablespoons of the spinach-ricotta mixture, then gently press to close.
Whisk together the eggs, milk, salt and garlic powder in a shallow baking dish.
Heat 1 tablespoon of the oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat.
Working with one stuffed slice of bread at a time, quickly dip it into the egg mixture, turning it over to coat both sides. Transfer to the hot oil. Repeat with more slices, taking care not to crowd the skillet. Cook for 3 minutes per side or until golden brown. Repeat with the remaining slices, adding the remaining oil as needed.
Divide among individual plates. Spoon some of the warm marinara sauce over each portion. Serve hot.
Serves eight.
Nutrition values per slice (without sauce): 250 calories, 13 g fat (4 g saturated), 24 g carbohydrates, 3 g fiber, 1 g sugar, 11 g protein, 85 mg cholesterol, 400 mg sodium,
Adapted from “Breakfast for Dinner” by Lindsay Landis and Taylor Hackbarth (Quirk Books, 2013)