The 10-Minute Toasts I Make Over and Over

They’re ready in just 10 minutes.

Simply Recipes / Frank Tiu

One of the best things about summer is that light, quick meals fit the vibe perfectly. When produce is at its peak, I’m happy to make a meal of it with a good loaf of bread. I think of toasts with toppings as no-fuss versions of pizza.

Instead of mixing dough, waiting for it to rise, and of course, baking it, I just put my favorite things on a slice of bread. I didn’t invent this idea—bruschetta, crostini, and tartines are all classic ways to put your meal on toast—but I’m all in.

Fruit Plus Cheese Equals Delicious

I came up with these nectarine and brie toasts after being inspired by a fruit-topped flatbread I had at a restaurant years ago. The now-closed Riverview Wine Bar served a flatbread with figs and blue cheese. One bite of the sweet and salty combination, washed down with a refreshing glass of rosé, won me over completely.

Suddenly, I saw seasonal fruits as juicy toppings to pair with tangy, melty cheeses and fresh herbs on my own creations. The combination of nectarines and brie with a drizzle of honey is my favorite.

Simply Recipes / Frank Tiu

Nectarines Are Easy

I love peaches as much as the next person, but I usually want to peel off that fuzzy skin. No need with nectarines, which have all the juicy sweetness of a peach and smooth skin that’s easier to ignore. The orange flesh and deep red skins of nectarines are gorgeous when arranged in half-moons on the toasts.

If the nectarines aren’t looking ripe at your market, you can always sub plums, pluots, apricots, peaches, or even pitted sweet cherries. If your fruit is very tart, just drizzle it with a little more honey. And if you’ve got a mint plant growing out of control, you can always sprinkle that on instead of basil—mint tastes delicious with stone fruit.

Don’t You Forget About Brie

We usually think of brie as a cheese board cheese, not a cooking cheese, and that’s a shame. Brie melts with just a kiss of heat, and the rich, luxurious spread of it makes simple toast into a feast.

I buy a wedge whose cut sides are bulging out a bit, showing that the cheese is ripe and flavorful. For toasts, I slice the brie along the cut side for long planks, and I leave the rind on.

Simply Recipes / Frank Tiu

How To Make My 5-Ingredient Nectarine and Brie Toasts

For two servings, you’ll need:

• 2 slices rustic sourdough bread
• Olive oil
• 4 ounces brie cheese, sliced
• 1 large nectarine, pitted and sliced into thin wedges
• 1 tablespoon honey
• 2 tablespoons thinly sliced fresh basil

Preheat your oven’s broiler on high. Lightly brush the bread with olive oil and place it on a baking sheet. Cover the bread slices with the sliced brie, then shingle the nectarines on top of the cheese. Drizzle evenly with the honey.

Broil the assembled toasts, checking frequently, until the cheese is melting and the fruit is bubbling and starting to brown on top, about 4 minutes. Alternatively, toast the bread in the toaster and assemble quickly while the bread is hot so the cheese melts. Serve immediately topped with the fresh basil.

Simply Recipes / Frank Tiu

Toasts of the Town

• 5-Ingredient Summer Veggie Toasts
• Soupy Toasts
• Blistered Tomato Toasts
• Black Bean Toasts
  

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