Toast is one of those foods that's amazing no matter how plain or extravagant. Whether it's slathered in butter and being dunked into your sunny-side up eggs, or loaded with toppings like avocado, cheese or fruit, it's pretty much always going to be good as long as it's not burnt.
Feb. 23 is National Toast Day, and there are so many unique ways to celebrate by topping your toast with delicious ingredients besides the classics like butter and jelly. Here are 10 of Food Network's best toast topping creations.
1. Eggs Benedict.
Have all the classic flavors of this staple brunch item in one tasty bite. For four slices of toast, mix together half a stick of softened butter with 1 tablespoon each of olive oil, white wine vinegar, chopped capers and chopped tarragon and then season with salt and pepper. Spread on the four slices of toasted white bread and top each one with two cooked Canadian bacon slices, chopped hard-boiled eggs, more chopped tarragon and scallions.
2. Spicy avocado.
Avocado toast made toast a trendy food item on social media over the past couple of years and it's really no surprise that this happened because it's pretty to look at, it's healthy and it tastes good. This spicy version calls for one mashed ripe avocado mixed with one teaspoon of rice vinegar. Season the mixture with salt, pepper and chipotle hot sauce and then spread on four slices of toasted whole-wheat bread. Top with thinly sliced radishes, sliced scallions and alfalfa sprouts.
3. Scallion pesto with ricotta.
I've come to the conclusion that pesto goes great on anything, especially when it's homemade, and even though this toast takes a little longer to make than most, it's completely worth it in the end. Start by cooking 1 bunch of chopped scallions in salted, boiling water for about a minute, and then drain and rinse them under cold water. Puree the scallions in a food processor with 1/3 cup of olive oil, juice of ½ a lemon, two tablespoons of each parsley, grated Parmesan cheese and toasted walnuts, and ¼ teaspoon each of red pepper flakes and kosher salt. Spread the homemade pesto on four slices of toasted sourdough bread and top with ricotta, drizzle with olive oil, and then finish it off with lemon zest and pepper.
4. French onion.
All the flavors of French onion soup are there, and you'll never want to eat a slice of plain toast again. The process of cooking the onions takes some time, but again, it's so worth it, especially since this is the kind of toast that can be served for dinner. Caramelize two slices of onions in two tablespoons each of butter and olive oil in a pan over medium-low heat for about 45 minutes and then season with Worcestershire sauce, salt and pepper. Divide the onions among four slices of toasted white bread, top with shredded Gruyere cheese and broil until the cheese is melted. Finish off with chives.
5. Cheesy pepperoni.
This toast is like a much fancier version of a greasy slice of pepperoni pizza with all the delicious flavors still there. Puree ¼ cup peperoni with 3 tablespoons of softened butter in a food processor and spread the mixture on four slices of toasted soft Italian bread. Top with slices of fresh mozzarella cheese and chopped basil and drizzle with olive oil. Put the toast under the broiler for a few minutes if you prefer the cheese melted.
6. Roasted garlic BLT.
This is another toast you can definitely eat for lunch or dinner as it's basically an open-faced sandwich. Pulse one stick of softened butter, 1 tablespoon each of roasted garlic, chopped chives and parsley and 1 teaspoon each of grated lemon zest and kosher salt in a food processor. Toss 1 cup of chopped watercress with ½ cup halved cherry tomatoes and 1 teaspoon each lemon juice and olive oil, and season with salt and pepper to make a salad. Spread the garlic butter mixture on four slices of toasted white bread and top with the salad and then finish the whole thing off with chopped cooked bacon.
7. Bacon egg and blue cheese.
Bacon, egg and cheeses are classic breakfast sandwiches and this slice of toast is yet another upgraded - and classier - version. Mix ½ stick softened butter with ¼ cup blue cheese crumbles. Spread the mixture on four slices of toasted marble rye bread and top each slice with crumbled cooked bacon, a whole fried egg and chopped chives. Season with pepper as desired.
8. Bacon jam.
Bacon jam is one of those awesome ingredients you can only find in some stores, but thanks to the incredible chefs over at Food Network, they've created a recipe so you can make it every single day at home. Cook 6 ounces of chopped bacon in a skillet until crisp and add in one sliced onion and one garlic clove until browned. Add ¼ cup each of water, brewed coffee, cider vinegar and maple syrup. Season the jam mixture with pepper and simmer until thickened. Pulse the whole thing in a food processor and season with salt. Spread the jam on four slices of toasted sourdough bread and finish it off with chopped parsley.
9. Strawberry-rhubarb.
Not all toast has to be savory, and this strawberry-rhubarb toast is the perfect sweet combination. Sauté ½ cup slices of rhubarb in butter until softened and add 3 tablespoons of maple syrup. Mix two tablespoons of softened butter with ½ teaspoon each of vanilla and cinnamon and spread the butter mixture on four slices of challah bread. Broil the bread until toasted and then top with the rhubarb mixture and sliced fresh strawberries. Finish it off with as much confectioners' sugar as your heart desires.
10. Chocolate hazelnut with bananas and bacon.
While Elvis is known for loving a peanut butter, banana and bacon sandwich, this toast is a sweet twist on his iconic classic. Spread chocolate hazelnut spread, like Nutella, on four slices of toasted pumpernickel bread and top with sliced bananas and crumbled cooked bacon. Finish the whole thing off with drizzled honey. If you'd prefer Elvis' flavors, swap out the Nutella for peanut butter.
