Peanut- and cilantro-topped ice cream may seem surprising, but this is a popular flavor combination in Taiwan’s coastal Yilan County, where night market vendors roll the ingredients in thin wheat-flour wrappers for a beloved snack called hua shen juan bing qi. At Win Son in Brooklyn, pastry chef Danielle Spencer fries fluffy milk-bread dough to make an oversized and shareable ice cream sandwich inspired by the famous street food. For an over-the-top flourish, Win Son co-owner and chef Trigg Brown suggests frying the peanuts in salted butter.

Featured in “6 Bold Ice Cream Sandwich Recipes to Change Things Up This Summer” by Kat Craddock.

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Ignacio Mattos, the chef at New York City’s celebrated Estela, likes to use milky, buttery Fromager d’Affinois for this open-faced tomato sandwich, but Brie or any triple-cream French cheese would also be delicious here. The flaky sea salt can be swapped out for gray salt.

Adapted from Estela by Ignacio Mattos with Gabe Ulla. Copyright © 2018. Available from Artisan.

Featured in “The Best Tomato Sandwich Isn’t a Sandwich at All” by Marian Bull.

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Pan con tomate translates as bread with tomato, and that’s basically all it is. But what a combination! The dish originated in northern Spain, in the region of Catalonia. There, it’s known as pa amb tomaquet, and it’s usually eaten at lunch or dinner, as a light side dish. But down south in Andalusia, pan con tomate is more often eaten in the morning, and it’s a hearty and luscious food. Its simplicity belies the pleasure that comes whenever it is served. All you need is good-quality olive oil, bread, garlic, a ripe tomato, and a sprinkle of sea salt.

Use the largest holes on a box grater to get at the juicy meat of a beefsteak tomato, discarding most of its skin as you go. Next, rub pieces of toasted baguette with a clove of garlic, drizzle them with olive oil, and top with the sweet grated tomato and a sprinkle of sea salt.

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I first encountered salmorejo—gazpacho‘s thicker, more decadent cousin—in Madrid. The cool and creamy tomato soup transcended seasonality. It was topped with egg and jamón ibérico, which wept fatty tears over its surface. Salmorejo demands that you act as a Spaniard and mop up every drop with bread. Then, like an American, you order another bowl. 

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Though traditionally deep-fried in olive oil, torrijas—Spain’s quintessential Holy Week dessert that falls somewhere between French toast and bread pudding—are subtler and less greasy when baked, as this knockout recipe from Madrid’s Panem bakery goes to show. Challah or good white sandwich bread may be substituted for the brioche. If you own a kitchen torch, you can use it in lieu of the broiler in step 5 to brûlée the bread on the top and sides. Panem doesn’t top its torrijas with cinnamon sugar, but the flavor combination is so classic that it felt like heresy to exclude it completely. Torrijas will keep in an airtight container in the refrigerator for three days, though they lose their sugary crunch after a day or so. The bread slices may be halved into rectangles in step 2 for smaller servings.

Featured in “Torrijas Are Spanish ‘French’ Toast—With a Few Tantalizing Twists,” by Benjamin Kemper.

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This quick and not-too-sweet brown soda bread comes from Byron Moussouris, the executive head chef of the Bloomsbury Hotel in London. Made with a generous splash of Guinness stout and black treacle—a robust cane syrup similar to molasses—this bread is best served warm or at room temperature, with soft, cultured butter or clotted cream and jam.

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Christmas songs tell us that the morning of December 25th is the absolute peak of the winter holiday season. Families rock around the tree while tiny tots open presents with their eyes all aglow. But truth be told, I think what comes after the early-morning rowdiness is more special: gathering around a table with loved ones to share a mouthwatering feast. It’s the denouement, if you will, that follows the climax—the moment the energy and anticipation surrounding the season gives way to a comfortable, more relaxed pace.

Holidays call for something extra special, yet also simple enough so as not to pull you away from the revelry. Keep the prep work to a minimum by using up Christmas Eve leftovers in a savory one-pan hash. Or, make eggs the star of the show with an easy and elegant quiche, or a hearty shakshuka. For a sweeter option, treat loved ones to a croissant bread pudding or pecan-chocolate sticky buns that double as desserts. As SAVEUR’s resident breakfast correspondent, I’ve rounded up some festive recipes that not only fuel the day’s activities, but also evoke the spirit of the season.

Custardy French Toast

Grilled on the stovetop and finished in the oven, this take on French toast is more like a decadent souffle—as crisp on the outside as it is pillowy on the inside. Get the recipe >

Orange Butter Coffee Cake

The only thing that can improve upon a winter’s-morning cup of coffee is a slice of coffee cake to go with it. This version, smothered in a tangy orange glaze and chopped pecans, is an especially sunny, craveable take. Get the recipe >

Kaiserschmarrn (Austrian Scrambled Pancakes)

A coffeehouse staple in Vienna, this dish of torn-up pancake is all fluffiness and no fuss—which makes it the perfect choice for a busy holiday morning. Add a berry compote and a dusting of powdered sugar for a downright festive presentation. Get the recipe >

Rice Pudding with Raspberry Coulis

Lighter than most rice puddings, and not quite as sweet, this Swedish specialty is a Christmastime tradition. Short-grain rice, such as arborio, lends itself beautifully to a deliciously creamy consistency—and a comforting, satisfying breakfast. Get the recipe >

Spinach, Beef, and Egg Hash

On a busy holiday morning, you need a recipe that comes together swiftly. This savory one-pan dish might only call for a handful of ingredients, but it’s guaranteed to be the star of the table. In place of the beef chuck, try tossing in any breakfast meats you might have hanging around in the fridge. Get the recipe >

Country Ham & Red Eye Gravy Danish

Brew a little extra coffee on Christmas morning (or use up any left over from the night before) to make a classic Southern gravy for these glorious savory pastries studded with ham and pecorino. Get the recipe >

Shakshuka

This simple dish of poached eggs and tomatoes spiked with spices and aromatics may be a brunch classic, but it also makes a gorgeous and filling main course any time of day. Get the recipe >

Roasted Apples and Bacon with Onions and Thyme

This classic Danish treatment proves apples belong as much in the savory realm as the sweet. Roast them with onions, caramelize them in bacon fat, and serve them under thick steaks of smoked belly bacon for a brunch dish that hits all the flavor notes. Get the recipe >

Sourdough Whole Wheat Waffles

Have sourdough starter left over from holiday baking sitting in your fridge? Mix some of it into classic waffle batter to give it airiness and tang that non-yeasted versions simply can’t match. Get the recipe >

Blueberry Quinoa Pancakes with Lemon Crema

Granola and quinoa lend lovely crunch and earthy flavor to these substantial, fluffy pancakes. The zesty lemon crema dolloped on top will brighten up any cold winter morning. Get the recipe >

Swedish Cinnamon-and-Cardamom Bread

In Swedish, fika means “to have coffee,” but it also refers to the country’s tradition of taking a break, chatting with friends, and enjoying a pastry, like this yeasty spiced bread from cookbook authors Anna Brones and Johanna Kindvall. It’s just the thing to munch while sipping a mug of joe on Christmas morning.  Get the recipe >

Baked French Toast with Cream and Eggs

This savory French toast is deceptively simple (and scalable), yet lavish enough for a festive occasion. As the dish bakes, the cream soaks into the bread and thickens into a rich sauce right on the platter, resulting in an impressive breakfast you’ll make again and again. Get the recipe >

Danish Rye Bread Porridge (Øllebrød)

Got some stale rye bread (preferably rich, nutty rugbrød) on hand? Soak cubes of your leftover loaf in a dark, malty beer on Christmas Eve, and you’ll be ready to make this tangy, earthy  breakfast treat the next morning. Get the recipe >

Espresso Waffles with Mocha Drizzle

Espresso powder and almond flour give a bittersweet edge to these waffles, which are glossed with a decadent sauce of coffee, condensed milk, and dark chocolate. Get the recipe >

Baked Egg Danish with Kimchi and Bacon

These savory Danishes swaddle kimchi, bacon, and baked eggs in rich, chewy laminated dough. If you have leftover ingredients from Christmas Eve hosting—think cooked mushrooms and greens, or grated cheese and herbs—go ahead and swap those in. (For the best texture, be sure to drain the extra liquid from cooked vegetables before adding.) Get the recipe >

Eggplant and Walnut Frittata (Badimjan Kükü)

This hearty Azeri egg dish—which can be served in small pieces as an appetizer or side or cut into larger wedges as a main—is loaded with ground walnuts, onions, and eggplant, giving the meal a nutty, meaty consistency. Get the recipe >

Pecan-Chocolate Sticky Buns

Baker and cookbook author Bryan Ford cooks these over-the-top sticky buns in a large cast-iron skillet—which not only makes for a rustic presentation but also guarantees gorgeously golden-brown edges. Get the recipe >

Gluten-Free Ham and Cheddar Scones

The sugar in these buttery, wheat-free scones offsets the smoky ham, cheddar cheese, and fresh chives, yielding the perfect example of how sweet and savory can go hand in hand. Get the recipe >

Perfect Blue Cheese Quiche With Whole Grain Crust

The blue cheese in this velvety quiche makes the dish satisfyingly creamy—balanced perfectly by a nutty, buttery spelt-and-whole-wheat crust. Get the recipe >

Grilled Banana-Pear Pancake

Francis Mallmann’s thick, fluffy flapjacks, topped generously with cool crème fraîche, creatively use grilled bananas as a pancake ring. The caramelized pear pressed into the batter as it’s cooking makes for a sweet surprise. Get the recipe >

Croissant Bread Pudding with Bourbon Sauce

Got a bunch of viennoiseries to finish before they go stale? This extravagant, boozy bread pudding makes the most of past-its-prime pastries by turning them into a decadent and boozy breakfast. Get the recipe >

Blackberry-Mint Scones

Agatha Kulaga and Erin Patinkin, of Ovenly bakery, call for frozen berries in their blackberry-mint scones, so you can make them even when berries aren’t in season—ideal for Christmas breakfast when fresh is harder to come by. Get the recipe >

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Frybread is both a beloved dish and complicated cultural symbol among Native American communities, particularly the Navajo Nation, with whom the dish is thought to have originated. After the U.S. government forcibly removed thousands of Navajo people from their homeland in New Mexico, these Native communities lost access to their traditional foods. Families had to subsist on the meager commodities the government provided, like flour and lard, and they invented frybread as a simple means of sustenance. Though the dish is traditionally fried, chefs Lois Ellen Frank and Walter Whitewater reimagined it as a dry-fried, pan-cooked recipe—with similarly chewy, puffed results. Also called “tortilla bread” by some members of the Pueblo tribes in New Mexico, this flatbread is a tasty accompaniment to hearty stews, like this Three Sisters Stew.

We recommend using a 12-inch (or larger) skillet or griddle, so you have room to cook more than one frybread at a time.

Excerpted from Seed to Plate, Soil to Sky: Modern Plant-Based Recipes Using Native American Ingredients by Lois Ellen Frank. Copyright © 2023. Available from Hachette Go, an imprint of Hachette Book Group, Inc.

Featured in “The Indigenous American Ingredients That Changed the Course of Food History,” by Megan Zhang.

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On a typical morning, the line at Mexican American bakery La Panadería in San Antonio winds out the door, as locals wait patiently to order a box of pan dulce, a category of sweet breads and pastries popular throughout Mexico. Brothers and co-owners David and José Cáceres grew up selling their mother Doña Josefina’s pan dulce on the streets of Mexico City. When they opened their own bakery in Texas, La Panadería, pan de muerto—citrus-scented buns topped with bone-shaped patterns and dusted with sugar—became one of their signature offerings. The treat is especially popular during Día de los Muertos, a holiday widely celebrated in Mexico to honor departed loved ones, but La Panaderia bakes it all year long. Now, with their pan de muerto recipe, so can you.

Featured in “The Sweet Bread That Fuels San Antonio’s Día de los Muertos Celebrations” by Megan Zhang.

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It doesn’t get much simpler—or more satisfying—than this Italian ricotta crostini recipe that comes together in under 20 minutes. We love using past-their-prime cherry tomatoes here, since they’re extra sweet and break down in no time. If you’ve already got the grill going, use it to toast the bread in step 2.

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“Cake salé” is a catch-all term for the humble savory loaves popular among French home cooks. This Alsace-inspired variation, studded with bacon, Gruyère, and caramelized onion, tastes great straight from the oven, but it’s even better reheated (cooling it completely tenderizes the crumb). Store any leftovers in the refrigerator. 

Featured in “Is This Humble Dish France’s Best-Kept Culinary Secret?” by Emily Monaco.

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