Thyme Roasted Figs Over Brioche Pain Perdu Recipes

PAIN PERDU

Steps:

• 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.

PAIN PERDU

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Trim side and bottom crusts from brioche, leaving top crust intact. Slice brioche 1/4 to 1/3 inch thick. Butter a 9-by-13-inch baking pan; lay bread pieces in pan so that they overlap slightly, with top crusts visible.
• Make custard: In a medium saucepan over medium heat, whisk milk, cream, sugar, vanilla scrapings, and liqueur. Cook until hot but not simmering.
• In a large bowl, whisk together eggs and yolks. Whisking constantly, pour 1 cup of the hot milk mixture into eggs; slowly add remaining milk mixture.
• Pour custard over bread, making sure to soak completely. Bake until firm to the touch, about 1 hour; if needed, press bread with a spatula to keep it moist.
• Remove from oven. Let cool slightly before cutting into rounds with a 3-inch biscuit cutter. Serve warm.

THYME-ROASTED FIGS OVER BRIOCHE PAIN PERDU

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 300°F. Combine the figs, honey, thyme, and water in a small ovenproof skillet. Bring to a simmer over medium-high heat. Transfer to the oven; cook until the figs have softened, about 40 minutes, basting occasionally with the cooking liquid. Remove the pan from the heat, and set aside.
• Combine the eggs, cream, and cinnamon in a medium bowl; whisk to combine. Dip the brioche in the egg mixture, and set aside. Heat the butter in a large nonstick skillet over medium heat. Cook the brioche until golden, about 1 minute on each side. Transfer to a serving platter. Spoon the roasted figs and cooking liquid over the brioche. Top with crème fraîche, and garnish with fresh thyme sprigs and flowers.

ROASTED FIGS WITH ST. ANDRÉ AND THYME

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Slice an X into the stem side of each fig, cutting halfway down the fruit. Gently pry the figs open, taking care to keep the fruit intact. Stuff 1 teaspoon of cheese into each cavity, and sprinkle with a pinch of thyme. (May be covered and refrigerated for up to an hour before baking.)
• Arrange figs cut side up on a baking sheet. Roast until the figs open and the cheese is melted, 4 to 7 minutes (less for ripe fruit). Season with pepper to taste. Serve immediately.

THYME-ROASTED VEGETABLES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400°. In a large bowl, combine vegetables. Add remaining ingredients; toss to coat., Transfer to a 15x10x1-in. baking pan. Roast 45-50 minutes or until tender, stirring occasionally.