Fruit Toast
How about a healthy breakfast or snack that captures the best fruit flavors of the season? Fruit Toast is simple and totally delicious.
Why you'll love this recipe
I'm a firm believer in calling things exactly what they are. For example, I thought for a minute about naming this recipe "Nectarine Tartine", but it rhymes weird and can we just admit that what follows here is just actually good old fruit toast? I totally agree.
The idea here is so simple! Just fresh bread, cheese, fruit, olive oil, flaky sea salt and basil. This is one of those easy recipes that you'll want to make over and over, and if you've never had such a thing, you're going to LOVE it.
This is easy and versatile, and is perfect for a quick breakfast, lunch or snack session.
The flavors are amazing together, plus satisfying and a little indulgent for breakfast, a snack, or anytime.
Sourdough Bread: Freshly cut in thick slices right off a round, please.
Fresh Goat Cheese: For texture and a slightly tangy flavor.
Olive Oil: Just a little olive oil as a flavorful finish to these toasts.
Honey: A drizzle of honey really pulls all the flavors together.
Flaky Sea Salt: Just a little teaspoon salt, SO important for flavor, so don't skip it!
Nectarines: Raw nectarine slices are juicy & sweet and set right on top of the goat cheese.
Basil: Just a pinch or two of fresh basil leaves, a little goes a long way.
Slice the sourdough bread about one-inch thick.
Drizzle the bread with a little olive oil, then set on a baking pan and broil until lightly brown and crispy at the edges. Repeat on the other side.
Whip the room temperature goat cheese in a medium bowl with the olive oil, honey and salt and combine with a hand mixer.
Slice the nectarines, set aside in a medium bowl TIP: Taste them! If they're tart, add a little honey and gently toss together.
Divide the cheese mixture on the warm toasts, add the nectarines on top and a bit of honey. Finish with a pinch of flaky sea salt and a bit of fresh basil.
Serve yourself this delicious little summer-y breakfast or snack, preferably while sitting on the porch or near a pool.
Nectarines are basically the same as peaches, but with a smooth (not fuzzy) exterior. You'll want to use them when they're firm but not soft, with a slight "give" to them when gently indented with your thumb.
Note that nectarines don't continue to ripen after picking, but they do soften, and usually this happens quick especially if the weather is warm, so buy what you plan to use in a day or two.
Both the yellow and white flesh varieties are delicious, so use whatever looks and tastes best. Ask for a sample taste, if possible! Whether it's at the Farmer's Market or grocery store, most of the time people are happy to oblige!
If you can't find nectarines, just use a fresh peach instead.
Use almost any artisan bread instead of sourdough. TIP: A freshly baked round-shaped bread is best for flavor and presentation in this recipe.
If the nectarines you have are a bit tart after slicing into them, just toss with a little bit of honey first.
Peaches are a good substitute for nectarines (and are basically the same thing except for the fuzzy exterior.)
Serve guests a quick, delicious and seasonally-inspired breakfast with mugs of hot coffee or tea.
Can I substitute other fruit instead of nectarines?
Yes! Fresh peaches or sliced plums would be great on this toast.
Can I substitute another fresh herb instead of basil?
Yes! You can certainly use fresh thyme instead of basil leaves, or a little sprinkle of Italian Parsley too. Or leave it off entirely!
Can I use something besides honey to finish these toasts?
A balsamic vinegar glaze would work very well instead of honey if you'd like.
Are there any delicious variations to this recipe?
You could certainly add some very thin slices of prosciutto or Black Forest Ham on top of the goat cheese before adding the nectarines and other ingredients.
Fruit Toast
A fabulous recipe for summer when the nectarines are at their peak!
Course: Breakfast
Total Time: 25 minutes
Servings: 4
Ingredients
▢ 4 slices Sourdough bread, 1" slices cut from a round
▢ 4 ounces Goat Cheese, softened
▢ 2 tablespoons Olive Oil
▢ 2 teaspoons Honey
▢ 1/4 teaspoon Salt, flaky sea salt
▢ 4 Nectarines, fresh, organic, washed and dried and sliced thinly
▢ 3 tbsp. Honey
▢ 1/4 tsp Salt, flake sea salt
▢ tbsp Basil leaves, fresh
Instructions
TOAST THE BREAD
Turn oven to the "broil" setting and prepare a baking sheet by lining it with natural or regular parchment paper.
Drizzle the sourdough bread slices with the olive oil – just enough to lightly cover each slice.
Place baking sheet on middle rack of oven and broil the bread just until it's lightly brown and crispy on the edges.
Remove from oven and turn the bread slices over
Continue to broil for a minute or so, just to lightly crisp up the bottom of the slices
Remove toasts from oven and assemble the toasts with the other ingredients
FOR THE GOAT CHEESE MIXTURE
Place the goat cheese, olive oil, and honey in a medium sized bowl
Whip the ingredients together using a hand held electric mixer until very smooth and light in texture, about 2 minutes.
Add the salt and mix for 30 seconds or so until combined
PREP THE NECTARINES
Slice the nectarines to 1/2" in size and place in a medium-sized bowl.
If your nectarines taste tart, add a teaspoon of honey and gently toss together
ASSEMBLE THE TOASTS
Divide the cheese mixture among the 4 toasts
Arrange some nectarine slices on top, roughly one sliced nectarine per toast.
Drizzle with a teaspoon of honey, a pinch of flake sea salt, and some of fresh basil leaves to serve
Notes
You can use other kinds of bread than sourdough, try your favorite!
If you’re nectarines are a little tart, toss them with a little honey before using on the toasts.
