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Toasties worth toasting

To make anything taste better, simply put it in a sandwich and hit toast.

Spanakopita toastie

Source: Danielle Abou Karam

This one is for the comfort eaters, the breakfast-for-dinner pros, the couldn't-be-bothered-making-dinner moaners, and the leftover lovers. It's also for anyone who simply knows the power of a darn good jaffle or panini or grilled cheese sandwich or melt or... let's just settle on
toastie
.

The combo of tasty, quick, convenient and easy has always kept toasties at the top of the snack chain. Even better when they find their way into breakfast (
Korean egg toast
, anyone?), lunch (hello
croque monsieur
) and dinner (whatever you've got). Oh, and did we mention the dessert toastie? Read on!

Hello sweets

Chocolate toastie
You bet we're starting with dessert! Source: The Chocolate Queen
Who said toasties had to be savoury? Not us! This
chocolate version
 gets the full dessert treatment: custard-soaked bread, fresh banana, oozing melted chocolate and a dusting of icing sugar for good measure.

Kick start

Hazelnut pain perdu with salted caramel
Only a toastie could take day old bread and turn it into a breakfast treat. Source: Kitti Gould
AKA French toast, the
pain perdue
is a classic in the dessert-for-breakfast toastie hall of fame. This version adds a thick smear of Nutella and a salted caramel sauce to really get your day off to a good start.
READ MORE

Challah French toast

French toasted brioche

Hong Kong-style

Hong Kong French toast
This is a popular dessert dish in Hong Kong cafes, but it's equally good for brunch. Source: Donal's Asian Baking Adventure
Last one on the sweet front (we are equally as disappointed), but you can't go wrong with
this unconventional take
on French toast. It tips both the brioche loaf and the ingredients on their head with crunchy peanut butter, condensed milk and five spice all making an appearance.

Cheese, please

Fried mozzarella sandwich (mozzarella in carrozza)
This is an example of a fried toastie - no special press required, just a frypan and some oil. Source: Paola Bacchia
The only thing better than dessert is cheese - something toasties also excel at. None more so than the Campanian 
mozzarella in carrozza
, which is pretty much just bread with cheese and more cheese.

Bare fridge essential

The tuna melt.
The good ol’ tuna melt – filling up individuals for as long as humans have been putting fish in a tin. Source: In Bread
The
humble tuna melt
may well be the dish du jour when money is tight, but that won't stop you from enjoying it no matter where you are in your pay cycle. If it's been a while since you hit the bottom of the fridge, the time is now.
READ MORE

Tuna francesinha (Portuguese cheese toastie)

Cosy overload

Mac ’n’ cheese toasties
Mac 'n' cheese in a hot, buttery toastie is just as luscious as it sounds. Source: Richo's Bar Snacks
Another comfort food staple is mac 'n' cheese, but the ante is up when it's
loaded into a toastie
. Too much comfort? Never!

Well sprouted

Brussels sprout and Havarti toasted sandwich
Proof that there is nothing a toastie can't fix. Source: Desiree Nielsen
Even if you think you hate Brussels sprouts,
make this toastie
. They pair so perfectly with Havarti cheese and crunchy sourdough you'll take one bite and finally know why people actually love Brussels sprouts.

Salmon glow up

Smoked salmon croque monsieur
A successful redesign sees the traditional ham in a croque monsieur replaced with smoked salmon. Source: Chris Abbott
Speaking of the unusual ingredient combinations that a toastie can magically mesh, try this
smoked salmon croque monsieur
. Cheese and fish are
seen as an unlikely pairing
, but this hotted-up French classic really works. See also, tuna melt!

Combo win

Sudanese beef and peanut butter toastie
A seemingly crazy combination for a sandwich, you'll just have to trust us on this one and bite into Sudan's delicious toastie! Source: Shane Delia's Recipe For Life
Another odd-combo entry is this
beef and peanut butter toasted sambo
. It's packed with giant flavours that only flatbread can contain.

No mess classic

Croque Monsieur
Layers of mustard and béchamel sauce turn a humble ham and cheese toastie into a French icon. Source: Kitti Gould
Of course, if it's the classics you crave,
consider yourself sated
. Or simply add an egg on top for a
croque madame
.
READ MORE

French onion croque madame

Boston bean good

Boston baked bean and cheddar jaffle
The secret to a top-notch toastie is all in the beans. Source: Smith Street Books / Chris Middleton
Ready for a quick trip around the world's cuisines flying toastie airlines? Thought you might be. First stop is the USA, where
Boston baked beans and cheddar
are the perfect filling toastie filling.
READ MORE

Brisket and classic coleslaw toastie

Greek fave

Spanakopita toastie
Hellllo spinach and feta. Source: Danielle Abou Karam
Set down in Greece for a little 
spanakopita magic
. All the bold flavours of yiayia's favourite pie are here in quick and easy toastie form.

Korea(ish)

Kimchi cheese toastie
Let's face it, kimchi in a toastie was always going to happen. Source: Adam Liaw
Onward to Korea where
kimchi cheese toast
has been satisfying Korean kids since... well, probably never, but that doesn't take away from the amazingness that is the spiciness of kimchi melting with the creaminess of the cheese.

Korea(definitely)

Korean egg toast
A little bit sweet, a little bit savoury, a little bit soft and a little bit crunchy... but eveyr bit toastie-good. Source: SBS FOOD
Gaeran to su tu
is sold by vendors all over Korea to cater for the rushed breakfast crowd. These pan-fried white bread toasted egg sandwiches are a fusion of Asian flavours and Western influences.

China(maybe)

Dan dan noodle jaffle
The classic Sichuan street food made even more portable. Source: Alan Benson
Likewise, we can't exactly state that the
dan dan noodle jaffle
is an authentic Chinese dish, but we're pretty sure they would claim it if they could. Fiery, mouth-puckery noodles are tempered by a couple of slices of plain white bread.

Welsh(yes!)

Ham sandwich rarebit
Melted cheese, beer, mustard and Worcestershire sauce, poured over a ham toastie and grilled until bubbling and brown. Source: Adam Liaw
At last, we've arrived at the
Welsh rarebit
. No, it has nothing to do with bunnies and everything to do with getting maximum flavour into a grilled ham and cheese sambo.
READ MORE

Welsh rarebit

Leftover no more

Inside-out Bolognese cheese toastie
Where would Australia be without the Bolognese toastie? Source: Danielle Abou Karam
The
spag bol toastie
is such a triumph that you'll make double your bolognese recipe every time. This one is great cold in a school lunchbox, as any kid from the eighties will attest. Now, who's craving a toastie?
Raise a toastie

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Generosity is key when it comes to this French toastie

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Pesto, proscuitto and taleggio toastie

This list of toasties will melt your heart

Garlic prawn toasties

Chinese jianbing (egg crepe) is the new ham-cheese toastie

Mushroom cheese toastie

Unicorn grilled cheese toasties and rainbow bagels are breaking the internet

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SBS Food is a 24/7 foodie channel for all Australians, with a focus on simple, authentic and everyday food inspiration from cultures everywhere. NSW stream only. Read more about SBS Food
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SBS Food is a 24/7 foodie channel for all Australians, with a focus on simple, authentic and everyday food inspiration from cultures everywhere. NSW stream only.
Watch nowOn Demand
Follow SBS Food
facebook
twitter
instagram
tiktok
4 min read
Published 2 February 2023 6:28am
By SBS Food bite-sized
Source: SBS

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