Easy Melba Toast
on Sep 18, 2022
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Melba toast is a delicious and versatile snack that can be prepared in less than an hour. You’ll be amazed at how easy it is to make and how many uses it has in the kitchen!
These thin, crispy, and buttery slices are the perfect addition to your recipe repertoire. Dip them in soup, spread them with a creamy dip, or crumble them over salad for a lovely crunch.
What Is Melba Toast?
Melba toast is thinly sliced bread that is buttered on both sides and then grilled until golden and crispy. It can be eaten plain, with a topping, or served with soup or salad.
There are several theories about where melba toast originated but one of the most popular stories is that it was created in the late 1800s by a chef at the Savoy Hotel in London. As one of her biggest fans, chef Auguste Escoffier named the snack after Dame Nellie Melba, the stage name of the famous Australian opera singer, Helen Porter Mitchell.
Ingredients You’ll Need
- bread
- salted butter
(Note: Full recipe is at the bottom of the post)
How to Make Melba Toast
- Spread a thin layer of salted butter on both sides of each slice of bread. If you’d prefer smaller pieces of toast, you can cut them into squares or triangles.
- Arrange the pieces on the baking sheets and bake them at 250°F for about 20 minutes. Turn each slice over and continue baking for another 15-25 minutes. The bread should be crisp and golden brown.
- Leave the toast to cool on a wire rack. Then serve it whole with dips, enjoy as avocado toast, or crumble it to spread over soups, stews, or salads.
Topping Options
Enjoy Melba Toast the same way you would a crostini or cracker. Top it with avocado, hummus, cold meat, cheese or a creamy dip. Dunk it in soups and stews for a delightful crunch. It’s ideal as an appetizer at parties, or you can enjoy it as a light snack.
Is Melba Toast The Same As A Rusk?
No. While melba toast looks very similar to a rusk, it is actually much thinner. A rusk is usually dunked in tea and is more like a hard biscuit than a piece of toast.
Easy Melba Toast Recipe
Ingredients
- 30 slices bread, sliced very thin
- 2 sticks salted butter, room temperature
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 250°F. Line a few baking sheets with parchment paper and set aside.
- Spread a thin layer of salted butter on both sides of each slice of bread. If you’d prefer smaller pieces of toast, you can cut them into squares or triangles.
- Arrange the pieces on the baking sheets and bake them in the oven for about 20 minutes. Turn each slice over and continue baking for another 15-25 minutes. The bread should be crisp and golden brown.
- Leave the toast to cool on a wire rack. Then serve it whole with dips, enjoy as avocado toast, or crumble it to spread over soups, stews, or salads.
Nutrition information provided is an estimate only and will vary based on ingredient brands and cooking methods used.
