Cheese & Vegetable Toast

cheese-and-vegetable-toast

Cheese & Vegetable Toast

Growing up in Ukraine, this toast was my favorite childhood snack. I am eight months pregnant at the moment, which explains the craving and why I am reminiscing about it. Of course, I had to update it and bring the recipe to a new level by replacing regular bread with a crunchy baguette, sliced on a bias. I also added cheese and chives, which were a rare commodity in our household during the post-Soviet times. Grated carrots and chopped onion are mixed together with two of my favorite spices, warm and earthy cumin and mildly spicy harissa. To bind the mixture, you need two eggs, gruyere cheese and fresh chives, dill or parsley for a touch of color. Smear the mixture on top of each baguette slice and cook it in a hot pan with the vegetable side down for three minutes at most. Flip and brown the other side slightly. Grate extra gruyere on top and sprinkle with chili flakes. Awesome for breakfast or a mid-afternoon snack. Enjoy!

cheese-and-vegetable-toast-ingredients

Ingredients: carrots, onion, chives, parsley (or dill), gruyere cheese, eggs, vegetable oil, cumin, harissa, chili flakes, salt, baguette.

cheese-and-vegetable-toast-grating-carrot

Peel and grate carrots.

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Finely dice yellow onion.

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Transfer vegetables into a bowl and snip chives on top.

cheese-and-vegetable-toast-grate-cheese

Grate cheese on top.

cheese-and-vegetable-toast-season-with-harissa-spice

Season with harissa spice and cumin.

cheese-and-vegetable-toast-season-with-salt

Season generously with salt.

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Add two eggs.

cheese-and-vegetable-toast-mix-to-combine

Mix everything to combine.

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Cut one half of a baguette on a bias into two equal parts. Then slice each piece in half lengthwise.

cheese-and-vegetable-toast-top-baguette-with-vegetable-mixture cheese-and-vegetable-toast-smearing-vegetable-mixture

Top each slice with vegetable mixture, pour egg and vegetable juices from the bowl over each pieces.

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Kitchen tip: the extra liquid will soak up baguette and it will taste very tender when cooked.

cheese-and-vegetable-toast-place-toast-on-hot-pan cheese-and-vegetable-toast-cook-toasts

Heat a large non-stick pan over medium heat, add a dash of oil and carefully place two toasts (vegetable side down) into the pan. Lower the heat to medium-low and cook toasts for about 3 minutes, once cooked they should release easily. Then flip and cook for another 2 minutes.

cheese-and-vegetable-toast-making-toasts

Transfer toasts to a serving plate, and then finish with the rest.

cheese-and-vegetable-toast-cooked-toasts

cheese-and-vegetable-toast

While toasts are still hot, sprinkle them with chili flakes and grate extra gruyere cheese on top!

Bon Appétit!

Svitlana

Cheese & Vegetable Toast

Serves 4-6

Ingredients

1/2 fresh baguette
2 carrots, peeled, grated
1/3 yellow onion, finely diced
1/4 cup gruyere cheese, grated
2 eggs
1 teaspoon chives, finely chopped
1 teaspoon parsley or dill, finely chopped (optional)
1/4 teaspoon cumin
1/2 teaspoon harissa spice
chili flakes for sprinkling, to taste
Vegetable oil
Salt

Directions

In a medium bowl, combine carrots, onion, cheese and chives. Add eggs, season with salt and spices. Mix everything well to combine.
Cut one half of a baguette on a bias into two equal parts. Then slice each piece in half lengthwise. Top each slice with vegetable mixture, pour egg and vegetable juices from the bowl over each pieces. Kitchen tip: the extra liquid will soak up baguette and it will taste very tender when cooked.
Heat a large non-stick pan over medium heat, add a dash of oil and carefully place two toasts (vegetable side down) into the pan. Lower the heat to medium-low and cook toasts for about 3 minutes, they should release easily, then flip and cook another 2 minutes. Transfer toasts to a serving plate, and then finish with the rest. While toasts are still hot, sprinkle them with chili flakes and grate extra gruyere cheese on top!