Everything Toasts!

This time of year (basically winter-spring) I am extra obsessed with homemade ferments while things like cabbage, beets, radish, and other root veggies are in season locally here in north Florida. Anything we can obtain locally from our favorite farmers gets made into some tasty meal or fermented in a jar and made into a hearty kraut or kimchi! The problem is, when making SO much fermented food, what to do with all of it? One eventually gets sick of just eating it plain, so I've gotten creative this year by literally adding in atop every sandwich I make, and then simplifying my sandwiches to open-faced toast just totally loaded with anything I have (much easier to eat than trying to keep it together in a sandwich!)

You don't necessarily need kraut to make tasty toast- there are so many things you can load onto bread to make the need for gluten (or gluten-free varieties of course) a little bit healthier ;) My favorite bread is sprouted, as it's healthier than other types of bread, but feel free to use homemade, specialty, whole wheat, gluten free, BAGELS, wholesome crackers or any kind of grain-like bread-like thing that your heart desires (and hey, Passover is coming so if you're Jewish like me.. and even if you're not... you can enjoy all these tasty treats atop some MATZAH). Whoever said vegan food doesn't taste good is really ignorant and missing out because there are enough toasts and sandwiches that I can just eat bread with stuff on it every day for the rest of my life <3


Here are some ideas of some tasty toasts that I've been making lately!


Grilled Cheese Reuben!

Closed sandwich or open-faced. Load your toast with vegan cheese, vegan mayo, cabbage kraut or kimchi, and some kind of plant-based protein (tofu strips, tempeh, veggie burger, etc.) Smother a little thousand island on there if you prefer it to mayo (or make your own by combining together mayo and ketchup). For this one, I prefer to make it a sandwich and cook evenly on both sides in a pan with some coconut oil or earth balance until golden brown on each side and the cheese is melted!


Avo Grilled Cheese!

Make a sandwich with two pieces of bread hugging some avocado slices and vegan cheese (any variety, store bought slices are easiest but shreds or homemade NUT cheese are extremely tasty too!) Smother a little vegan mayo in there if you want, throw in some tomatoes, spinach, and other veggies you may have (optional) and saute in a pan a few minutes each side in some melted coconut butter or earth balance until your bread is golden brown on each side. I love enjoying this one dipped into some marinara sauce or tomato soup!


Pink Toast!

Toast two pieces of toast or whatever bread type thing you prefer. Spread on a layer of vegan cream cheese onto each slice, and top with a heaping scoop of fresh BEET kraut atop each slice. (For homemade beet kraut, follow my recipe for fermented veggies by using a basic cabbage recipe but adding a few grated BEETS into your jar with the cabbage.) Top with arugala or kale shreds and some sesame seeds if you want it to look extra pretty.


Kraut Toast!

Toast two pieces of toast or bread or whatever you prefer. Smother each slice with some fresh hummus (any variety will work but basic GARLIC is my favorite). Add a heaping scoop of cabbage kraut onto each slice (beet kraut works well too!) and top with fresh garlic or garlic powder and a small handful of sesame seeds. Add a pinch of arugula or kale for a pretty presentation.


KIMCHI Toast!

I LOVE kimchi. Toast two pieces of bread, smother with vegan cream cheese OR hummus, and top with loads of kimchi. I love eating tofu paired with kimchi, so to do so, thinly slice some extra firm tofu and add the strips on top or under the kimchi. Enjoy as a sandwich or open faced toast. If you like some extra spice, top with some cayenne pepper.


Nut Butta Toast!

Toast two pieces of bread, smother with some tasty NUT butter (peanut, almond, cashew, or sunflower) and top with fresh fruit such as banana slices, strawberry slices, raspberries, thinly sliced apples, or any combo of the above! Optional- add some sunflower seeds on top and if your nut butter is unsweetened drizzle a little maple syrup or melted CHOCOLATE over top. You can also drizzle a bit of vegan yogurt for a pretty presentation :)


Bagel Toast without the bagel!

Toast your favorite toast. Smother with vegan CREAM CHEESE or coconut oil. Top with a variety of "everything bagel" toppings, such as sea salt, poppy seeds, sesame seeds, garlic, etc. You can also get the lovely "everything bagel" seasoning from Trader Joe's which already has it all in it!



Enjoy this inspiration for different vegan TOASTS and I hope it will also spark your creativity to make some of your own variations as well! Please share with me if you enjoy eating any of these toasts :)