Tomato Cream Cheese Toast

Summer fresh tomatoes are piled onto lightly toasted bread with a generous spread made with cream cheese. Tomato Cream Cheese Toast is a delicious summertime lunch or an appetizer too! Don’t forget to season the tomatoes well and use fresh herbs for flavour and garnish.

I often crave grilled or toasted bread that has been topped with tomatoes. That’s probably why I make Toasted Tomato Sandwiches so often! But sometimes, I want more flavour, which is why I turn to this recipe. It is basically sliced tomatoes with cheese, but the seasoning, fresh herbs, and that little bit of sweetness from the honey, make Tomato Cream Cheese Toast extraordinarily delicious!

Here we are getting close to the middle of September, which means that summer is winding down. I still have lots of tomatoes growing in our backyard, so I’m trying my best to come up with different ways to enjoy them before the first frost takes them all. Just a short while ago, I shared my Tomato Grilled Cheese Sandwich, so this time I’m sharing one of my favourite ways to prepare an open-faced sandwich using tomatoes and cheese once again.

SUMMER FRESH TOMATOES

If you’re thinking about making this toast, you must have some summer fresh tomatoes on hand, right? The whole concept of a simple recipe like this is about combining fresh tomatoes with a few basic ingredients. I have used roma, heirloom, and green zebra tomatoes, however, any tomato will do, but I think the best tomatoes are the ones with more meatiness.

When a tomato is described as being meatier, it simply means that the ratio of tomato flesh to the seeds and pulp mixture is higher. A good example of this is the beefsteak tomato. They are quite large and the walls of the tomato are thick and sturdy. They’re most often found on sandwiches for this reason.

In terms of taste, I prefer the roma tomato. In my opinion, this variety has the best flavour, and most certainly, the best colour. A perfectly ripe roma tomato has a deep red colour and just pops in contrast to other recipe ingredients. I use the roma tomato almost exclusively in my recipes. Tomatoes on the vine are perfect for this recipe too! This year my romas didn’t grow well at all, so I had to pair them with heirloom tomatoes.

INGREDIENTS NEEDED TO PREPARE THIS RECIPE

Here is a list of the ingredients you will need to prepare this recipe. For exact amounts and measurements, refer to the printable recipe card located near the bottom of this post.

• Bread – You can use any bread you like, but sturdier bread like sourdough works best.
• Tomatoes – Use locally grown tomatoes if possible. It really does make a world of difference!
• Cream Cheese – I always prefer brick-style cream cheese over whipped or spreadable cream cheese. It just tastes better.
• Milk
• Honey – This adds just a bit of sweetness and smoothness to the cream cheese.
• Salt and Ground Black Pepper 
• Fresh Herbs – In my opinion, the best herbs to pair with Tomato Cream Cheese Toast are basil and oregano. Use whole leaves and some finely chopped parsley as well.

HOW TO MAKE TOMATO CREAM CHEESE TOAST

Beat together the cream cheese, milk, honey, salt, and ground black pepper until well combined and set aside. Toast four slices of sourdough bread to your desired level of brownness.  Once toasted, spread the cream cheese mixture evenly on all four slices.  

Lay the sliced tomatoes onto the prepared toast.  Sprinkle with ground black pepper and salt to taste.  Top with fresh herbs for garnish.  Serve immediately.

TOPPED TOAST POPULARITY

It’s no big secret that I used to have a full-on love affair with The Pioneer Woman.  I watched the show every chance I got.  On one particular episode, Ree dedicated a whole segment to the popularity of toasts.  She also agreed that toast topped with various ingredients had become rather popular, not only for the home cook but on many restaurant menus and especially food trucks. 

I guess the appeal is that they are easy to prepare, extremely easy on the wallet, and completely filling.  I, for one, can make a complete meal on bread!  Additionally, with toasts, each individual taste can be satisfied. But, being that I am on a tomato kick, lately, I wanted to try my hand at these toasts and see what I could come up with.  Little did I know that I would be piecing together the most delicious thing I have ever put in my mouth.  I’m serious!

HOW TO SERVE A SANDWICH

I dearly love sandwiches; I really do! I’m that one person who loves to bake and cook, but can be easily satisfied with a sandwich. In fact, before I started to work from home, a few times a week, I would bring a sandwich to work for lunch. My favourite quick lunch is ham and cheese on good grainy bread with a hot cup of coffee. I love sandwiches with hot coffee!

But, on the occasion that I make sandwiches for dinner, I go all out. I love to serve sandwiches with kettle chips and a pickle on the side. Sometimes, I serve them with coleslaw and potato salad. A good, well-made sandwich can be quite impressive. Look at my White Bean Salad Sandwich and my Smashed Lentil Salad Sandwich. I would totally serve one of these to any guest! Wouldn’t you?