Georgian Egg Bread (Kikliko) with Adjika Butter - Savory French Toast

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In Georgia (the country, not the state!), breakfast is a simple affair of eggs, bread, and condiments. Kikliko is the equivalent of Georgia's version of a simple French toast. This Georgian egg bread, or kikliko, recipe uses a national staple ingredient called adjika. It makes the egg bread savory, salty, and a tad spicy!

Jump to:

• How is Kikliko Different From French Toast?
• What is Adjika?
• Ingredients  
• Substitutes
• Equipment You'll Need
• Recipe Tips
• How to Make Georgian Egg Bread (Kikliko)
• How to Serve Savory French Toast
• Variations of Kikliko
• Frequently Asked Questions
• Georgian Egg Bread (Kikliko) with Adjika Butter
• Have You Tried This Recipe?

How is Kikliko Different From French Toast?

Kikliko, the Georgian egg bread, consists of sliced day-old bread dipped in an egg batter and then fried in a pan. This Georgian breakfast dish sets itself apart from the popular French toast because it is typically served with a variety of savory toppings. You'll find local ingredients such as vegetables, cheese, butter, and spices on top of kikliko.

This Georgian toast is not meant to be sweet, and I wanted to integrate another popular ingredients in the form of butter. So this recipe uses an easy-to-make adjika butter consisting of the dry version of the seasoning.

What is Adjika?

Adjika is a popular seasoning made with mashed spicy red peppers, garlic, coriander, oil, and salt, along with specialty spices. The spices added to this seasoning will depend on the region. Traditionally, adjika comes as a paste. But a modern alternative is the dry, powdered version.

Its main taste profile consists of salty and garlicky with just a slight kick from the peppers. It's not the spiciest chili seasoning, but it brings some heat to any food you pair it with.

Ingredients  

• Wheat Bread
• Egg
• Milk
• Dry Adjika
• Unsalted Butter
• Garlic
• Salt

Substitutes

• Wheat Bread: You can use any type of sliced bread for this recipe, as long as it can absorb the egg milk mixture.
  
  
• Milk: You can use cream and even water to replace the milk. It's to help thin the egg. 

Equipment You'll Need

You won't need a lot of equipment for this Georgian egg bread recipe. But the following recommendations will make things easier for you!

• A shallow bowl/deep plate for dipping the bread into the egg and milk mixture.
  
  
• A crepe pan will provide a large flat surface area and even cooking for with bread slices with butter.
  
  
• A food processor will quickly blend the butter ingredients giving you more time to enjoy this Georgian breakfast!

Recipe Tips

• Use Room Temperature Butter: Softened butter will make it easier for the ingredients to integrate together.
  
  
• Make Butter Ahead: You can quickly make the adjika butter ahead of time, such as the night before. Then, the flavors will be more integrated the next day when you are ready to use it.
  

How to Make Georgian Egg Bread (Kikliko)

1. Throw butter ingredients into a food processor.
2. Make the butter by blending them together, then place in the fridge.
3. Whisk the egg and milk together in a plate.
4. Dip both sides of one slice of bread into the mixture.
5. Add the dipped bread and let it cook on one side until crispy and golden brown.
6. Repeat the process on the other side.
7. Cook the other bread slices.

How to Serve Savory French Toast

You should serve these Georgian egg bread slices immediately while they are warm and slightly crisp. If you're the type that likes a saltier taste, you can serve the adjika butter with it too. You can also serve them with other savory toppings such as tomatoes, cucumbers, and cream cheese.

Variations of Kikliko

Here are some other toppings (classic and fusion) for this savory french toast. 

• Cheese and Sour Cream: Shred two pieces of mozarella string cheese and mix it with a tablespoon of sour cream. Add it on top of the bread slice along with thin slices of tomatoes. This is a rendition of tenili, a regional string cheese typically mixed with sour cream in Georgia.
  
  
• Make a Benedict: Poach some eggs and make hollaindaise sauce to add them on top of kikliko. The adjika butter will add some spicey notes and garlic flavor to this fusion variation.