Melba Toast Recipes

MELBA TOAST

Steps:

• Preheat the broiler to high and toast the bread lightly on both sides.
• Cut off the crusts and then, holding the toast flat, slide a sharp knife between the toasted edges to split the bread so that you now have 8 slices that are toasted only on one side.
• Cut each piece into 4 triangles, and then toast under the broiler, untoasted sides uppermost, until golden and the edges curl.
• Serve warm with soup.
• Alternatively, make Melba toast earlier in the day, and warm for a short time in the oven at 170ºC/ 325ºF/ Gas Mark 3 before serving.

PROPER MELBA TOAST

Steps:

• Toast the bread slices on both sides, under the grill or use a bread toaster.
• Cut off the crusts, lay the slices flat on a cutting board, put your hand on top of it, and using a serrated knife slide through the bread to split it, or hold it in your hand and cut through it rotating the slice of bread.
• If you want, cut these thin slices into a triangle.
• Do these above steps while the bread is still warm otherwise the bread will crumble or break.
• Then you toast the untoasted sides under the grill until golden.
• The sides will curl up; keep your eye on them because this will go very quick.
• This can be made well in advance and kept in a tin.

MELBA TOAST

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 250 degrees. Slice bread very thinly, then cut into 3-by-2-inch pieces. Arrange bread slices on a baking sheet.
• Toast bread in oven, flipping slices halfway through, until dry, about 2 hours.

CRAB MAYONNAISE WITH MELBA TOAST & HERB SALAD

Steps:

• To make the crab mayonnaise, put the egg yolk and mustard in a medium bowl and whisk together. Add a drop of the oil and whisk until completely combined. Gradually add the oil, a drop at a time, then in a thin trickle, whisking continuously until you have a thick mayonnaise. Whisk in the lemon zest and juice, stir in the crabmeat and season to taste. This mix can be made a few hours ahead and kept in the fridge.
• For the Melba toast, heat the grill to high. Place the bread on a baking sheet and toast on both sides until lightly browned. Cut the crusts off the toast, then carefully cut through the middle of each slice horizontally to give you 2 thin slices. Cut each of these into 4 triangles. Put the triangles, untoasted-side up, on the baking sheet and place back under the grill to brown - if they curl up slightly, all the better. The toast can be made a day ahead and kept in an airtight container.
• Assemble the herb salad just before serving: put all the herbs in a bowl, add the shallot and capers, then dress with olive oil and vinegar. Toss everything together until well mixed and you're ready to serve. See our step-by-step guide to plating up..