Toast can be dry and tasteless if you’re only using a toaster, but there’s a simple way to make it more flavourful and crispy without having to add loads of butter
Toast may be the easiest grub to whip up, but if you’re just chucking it in a toaster, it can end up rather dry and bland. A toaster is handy for a quick brekkie, but toast is inherently quite dull, often requiring lashings of butter to add any flavour at all. This results in toast that’s soggy in the middle, while the crust stays tough and rubbery.
However, Karen, the culinary whizz behind Soup Addict, has revealed that toast is far superior and boasts a much-improved texture when cooked in a frying pan with a splash of olive oil. She shared: “I like bread out of the toaster as much as the next person, but if you’re like me, you automatically reach for the butter or other condiments to moisten the bread. It’s just better that way. With fried toast, there’s a nice balance of crunchy texture and olive oil lusciousness.”
Cooking bread with a bit of olive oil will make the bread crispy, giving you a caramelised exterior instead of the crumbly toast you often get with a toaster.
The toast becomes more robust, making it easier to hold toppings without them sliding off or falling apart, reports the Express.
Karen added: “Bread fried in olive oil becomes very, very sturdy, but not in the teeth-cracking way that you associate with, say, a crusty French baguette. The bread is crunchy… but tender. And it holds the weight.”
Olive oil not only enhances the flavour of your toast, but it also gives it a luxurious feel without having to slather it in butter. This simple recipe will turn your morning toast from a hurried meal into a delightful breakfast treat.
How to take your toast to the next level:
What you’ll need:
One slice of hearty thick bread
One teaspoon of extra-virgin olive oil
A 20cm frying pan
Instructions:
Start by heating up a frying pan on medium-high heat. You’ll know it’s hot enough when a drop of water sizzles or skitters across the surface.
Next, drizzle olive oil in zigzags on one side of the bread. You only need a small amount — just enough to crisp up the bread and form a crust.
Place the bread in the centre of the pan, with the olive oil side down. Let it cook for two to three minutes, checking its progress with a spatula.
Once the edges start to look charred, flip it over. When the second side is golden brown, transfer the bread to a plate and let it cool.
Finally, sprinkle a bit of salt on top, add your favourite toppings, and voila!
Your richer, crunchier toast is ready to be enjoyed.