Description
Heating causes the Maillard reaction between amino acids from proteins and reducing sugars. The reaction forms new brown molecules that give toasted aromas and flavors at temperatures above 140 degrees Celsius.
Cultural Background
The word yummy first appeared in print in 1899 as baby talk for delicious food. It came from earlier sounds like yum-yum recorded in 1878 that imitate lip smacking. The dish itself uses the Maillard reaction, named after French chemist Louis Maillard who described it in 1912. In that reaction amino acids from proteins and reducing sugars lose water and rearrange into hundreds of new compounds. Those compounds create the brown color and the smell of toasted bread or seared meat. The cook sees the surface turn golden and smells the change when heat exceeds 140 degrees Celsius. Starch gelatinization happens at the same time when water at 60 to 75 degrees Celsius swells the starch granules until they burst and thicken the mixture. The key craft is keeping the pan hot enough for browning yet stirring often so the food does not burn. One surprising fact is that the same Maillard chemistry was used in ancient China when paraffin wax was burned near fruit to speed ripening through trace gases.
Recipe Info
PREP TIME: 10 minutes
COOK TIME: 15 minutes
TOTAL TIME: 25 minutes
SERVINGS: 4
DIFFICULTY: Easy
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons oil
- 4 slices bread
- 2 eggs
- 1 cup milk
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
Instructions
- Adult: Heat the oil in a wide pan over medium heat until it shimmers.
- Dip each bread slice in the beaten egg and milk mixture for a few seconds.
- Place the dipped bread in the hot pan.
- Cook for 3 minutes until the bottom turns golden brown.
- Adult: Flip each slice with a spatula.
- Cook the second side for another 3 minutes until golden.
- Sprinkle with salt and serve at once.
Tips
- The bread burns if the pan is too hot before the egg sets; watch for dark spots and lower the heat at the first sign.
- Use water instead of milk if needed.
- Toast the bread lightly first next time for deeper flavor.
Nutrition
Calories: 220
Protein: 8g
Carbs: 20g
Fat: 12g