Coconut Cardamom French Toast With Raspberry Rhubarb Compote Food

RASPBERRY COCONUT FRENCH TOAST SLOW-COOKER STYLE

Steps:

• In a large bowl, whisk eggs, coconut milk and vanilla until blended. Place half of the bread in a greased 5- or 6-qt. slow cooker; layer with half of the cream cheese, jam, coconut and egg mixture. Repeat layers. Refrigerate, covered, overnight., Cook, covered, on low 2-3/4 to 3-1/4 hours or until a knife inserted in the center comes out clean. Serve warm with whipped cream, raspberries and toasted coconut.

COCONUT-CARDAMOM FRENCH TOAST WITH RASPBERRY-RHUBARB COMPOTE

Steps:

• Compote
• Preheat oven to 400°F. Gently combine rhubarb and raspberries in a shallow baking dish that will hold them snugly. Scatter sugar over and add cardamom. Scrape seeds from vanilla bean into a small bowl and set aside for making the French toast. Add vanilla pod to dish. Cover with foil and bake fruit 15 minutes. Carefully remove foil, stir gently, and roast, uncovered, until fruit is beginning to collapse but is still bright pink, about 10 minutes more. Remove baking dish from oven; pluck out cardamom pods and vanilla pod and discard. Let cool (juices will thicken as compote cools). Do ahead: Compote can be made 3 days ahead. Transfer to an airtight container; cover and chill.
• Filling
• Bring cream, coconut, sugar, and salt to a boil in a medium heavy saucepan over medium heat, stirring. Cook, stirring often, until thickened to a paste and pale yellow (sound should turn from bubbling to a faint sizzle and there should be very little liquid remaining), 6-8 minutes. Scrape into a bowl and let cool. Do ahead: Filling can be made 3 days ahead. Cover and chill.
• French toast and assembly
• Reduce oven temperature to 200°F. Pour sugar evenly into a shallow baking dish large enough to accommodate 4 slices of bread. Using your fingers or a spoon, press pods and seeds into sugar, then scrape in reserved vanilla bean seeds and work into sugar. Add milk. (For the fullest flavor, combine spiced sugar and milk in a heatproof jug or bowl and microwave until steaming, 30-60 seconds. Let sit 5 minutes to infuse, then pour back into dish.) Whisk in eggs, cream, almond extract, rose water, and salt.
• Divide coconut filling among 4 slices of bread (about 3 Tbsp. each). Spread in an even layer, leaving a thin border at edges. Top with a second slice of bread to form sandwiches. Lay sandwiches in custard and let soak 2 minutes. Gently turn over and let sit while you heat the pan.
• Melt enough butter or pour in oil to thinly coat a large cast-iron or nonstick skillet over medium heat. Cook 2 sandwiches until evenly golden, about 3 minutes per side. Transfer French toast to a baking sheet and keep warm in oven. Repeat with remaining 2 sandwiches.
• Bake French toast 5 minutes. Remove from oven and transfer to plates. Top with raspberry-rhubarb compote, maple syrup, and other toppings as desired.

COCONUT FRENCH TOAST

Steps:

• In a large bowl, beat eggs; add milk, sugar and cinnamon. Add bread, a few slices at a time; let soak for 1 minute on each side. Coat both sides with coconut. Place on greased baking sheets. , Bake at 475° for 5 minutes on each side or until golden brown and cooked through. Serve with syrup if desired.

STRAWBERRY RHUBARB COMPOTE WITH VANILLA BEAN-INFUSED COCONUT CREAM

Steps:

• Combine strawberries, rhubarb, 1/2 cup honey, orange juice, cardamom, ginger, and cinnamon in a large pot over medium heat. Bring to a boil; cook for 1 to 2 minutes. Reduce heat to medium-low and simmer until rhubarb breaks down and compote thickens to resemble a jam, about 10 minutes.
• Transfer compote into a bowl. Refrigerate until cold, about 1 hour.
• Scoop the firm layer of cream from the top of the cans of coconut milk into a bowl, leaving the liquid behind.
• Split vanilla beans lengthwise with the tip of a sharp knife. Scrape seeds from each pod using the flat side of your knife. Add them to the coconut cream in the bowl.
• Whip the coconut cream with an electric mixer medium-high speed until fluffy, about 1 minute. Continue beating, slowly drizzling in 2 tablespoons honey, until soft peaks form.
• Serve whipped coconut cream over chilled compote.

COCONUT CREAM STUFFED FRENCH TOAST

Steps:

• Cut the bread into 5 thick slices, each about 2-inches thick. Split the top of each slice open in the middle, creating a pocket. Stuff each pocket with 1/2 cup of the Coconut Cream Cheese Filling. Dip each piece of stuffed toast into the French Toast Batter, coating completely.
• Add 2 teaspoons of the oil to a pan set over medium heat. Place some pieces of the toast into the hot pan and cook until brown on both sides and heated through in the middle, 3 to 4 minutes per side. Repeat for the remaining toast, adding more oil as needed to the pan.
• Transfer the raspberry puree to a squeeze bottle. Drizzle some raspberry puree in a circle on each serving plate. Sprinkle some strawberries on top. Cut the French toast slices in half on the bias and shingle 2 halves on each serving plate.
• Cut the bananas in half lengthwise and then split in half again widthwise. Place the bananas cut-side up on a sheet tray. Sprinkle the bananas with the granulated sugar to coat. Using the torch, melt the sugar until golden in color. Carefully place 3 pieces of banana on each plate next to the French toast.
• Sprinkle the coconut on the plates, then dust each with cinnamon and confectioners' sugar and serve with maple syrup.
• In a large mixing bowl, using an electric mixer, whisk together the cream cheese and mascarpone. Add in the shredded coconut, honey, coconut extract and vanilla extract, and mix until combined.
• Crack the eggs into a large mixing bowl and beat with a wire whisk. Add the milk, cream, brown sugar, cinnamon, almond extract, vanilla extract and nutmeg, and mix together until combined. Refrigerate until needed.