Toasts are the open-faced sandwiches of today, and what makes them so fantastic is that you can top them with a variety of ingredients, and enjoy them as a meal. Simple fresh toppings like, Blood Oranges with their ruby red hue are seductively sweet and go hand-in-hand with creamy Ricotta cheese flecked with a shaving of lemon zest. Ripe avocado, while popular on top of toast for a reason, cannot be overlooked, so a slice or two to join the colorful party makes sense.
Good bread matters. Handcrafted sourdough or a rustic loaf brings a sophistication to a good toast and offers a chew that contrasts its toppings. A quick trip to the toaster and you are off and running with a meal in minutes, after slicing a few oranges and avocados. A smear of whole-milk ricotta is an essential step before layering on fruit, choose a cheese that’s rich and creamy, that’s worth every bite.
I think these toasts are delightful any time of the day and they can even be sliced into appetizer size and served with wine or cocktails at a party. Toasts are definitely a food you eat with your hands, so skip the knife and fork – just get in there and enjoy every bite.
Ingredients
8 slices rustic sourdough bread, or other good quality bread
1/2 cup whole-milk ricotta cheese
zest of a lemon
juice of 1/2 lemon
1 blood orange, sliced crosswise
1 avocado, sliced
good salt
good olive oil
(Serves 4)
To Prepare:
- Toast bread until deep golden brown and set aside.
- In a small bowl, combine Ricotta cheese, lemon zest and lemon juice.
- Dollop Ricotta on top of toasts. Top with 2 slices of avocado and 2 slices of blood orange.
- Sprinkle toasts with salt and drizzle with good olive oil. Enjoy!
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