Torrijasย (pronounced tor-ri-ha-s) areย one of the many guilty pleasure treats I learnt to make whilst living in Spain. When I first tasted them, I was surprised at how delicious and full of flavour a simple dessertย could be. I swear from the first bite, my eyes became dilated and I felt like I had been transported to some part of culinary heaven. Guy, too, was pleasantly surprised when he had his first taste, quickly going back to the store for seconds! What areย Torrijas? It’s the Spanish version of French Toast – but way better. Better because it packs a punch of flavour with the cinnamon and sugar added to the milk (or wine, if you are a little more adventurous!), and oh-so-decadent as it’s deep fried (like most of the delicious Spanish delicacies we tasted!).

Torrijas: Heavenly, but Evil

My Spanish mama, who taught me this recipe, said that it is “deceptively evil” as it tastes so heavenly, but you pay for it on the hips :p Perhaps this is whyย it is normally only eaten during Semana Santa. That’s right, you will be hard-pressed to find chocolate Easter eggs in Spain (especially compared to the overly commercial stores in Australia), but torrijas will be served in abundanceย throughoutย Semana Santa.ย It’s believed that they were created by nuns in Spanish convents centuries ago, as a way to use up stale bread left over from lent. They were the perfect ‘pick-me-up’ for the hungry and weak, and were even served to women giving birth to help relieve some pain (although I think the accompanying wine might have been the trick).

Whilst I’m one to respect tradition, this dessert is too good to only eat once a year, which is why I’m passing on this lovely recipe for you to cook and eat whenever you like!

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Torrijas Recipe

Serves 4 – 6 (depending how much you eat yourself!)

Ingredients
  • 2 cups milk
  • 2 cinnamon sticks
  • 4 tbls sugar
  • 2 – 4 eggs, beaten
  • Day-old, Thick bread, sliced – The more stale the better, as it will soak up the milk without breaking as easily.ย (I personally love to use baguettes, and slice them into thick pieces)
  • Extra virgin olive oil (for frying)
  • Cinnamon & sugar, honey or sugar water for added flavour
Method

  1. Boil milk, cinnamon & sugar for 5 minutes (or until fragrant). Stir.
  2. Leave to cool (this can be prepared the night before)
  3. Heat oil
  4. Once the milkย has cooled, layย sliced bread in the milk and allow it to absorb/soak through
  5. Dip soaked bread into egg and place in frying pan
  6. Fry the bread, turning once, until they are a golden brown colour & crispy on the outside
  7. Sprinkle the fried bread with cinnamon and sugar, or brush over with honey or sugar water
A delicious dessert for any time of the year

A delicious dessert for any time of the year

They may not look like much, but they are such a delicious treat, and if cooked well, will be crunchy on the outside and creamy and soft on the inside! I’ve put our own spin on it and serve it with ice-cream, but they are quite decadent enough without anything else. I might even be courageous and try it with a bit of Baileys next time! Enjoy!

Have you tried this recipe? Let usย know what you think and comment below!

 

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Land-Dwelling Mermaid, Hispanophile and travel addict. Kim-Ling one day hopes to convince Guy to build her a room for her huge shoe collection.

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