The toast is a flavorful and satisfying snack that easily adapts to different palates and tastes. Thanks to the many possible fillings, it is the ideal meal for those with little time to dedicate to lunch or dinner, or for those who want a snack that is different from the usual. Preparing it is very easy; all it takes are two slices of bread—whatever our favorite type may be—and letting your imagination run wild, ranging from the simplest toast recipes to gourmet ones, perhaps even experimenting with those designed for vegans and vegetarians. Let's discover the 5 most appetizing ones, to prepare in just a few minutes with all the functionality and sought-after aesthetic of the wide range of Ariete toasters.

French Toast: the croque monsieur

When we think of the classic toast consumed in Italy, the filling that comes to mind is the basic one with melted cheese and cooked ham. In reality, the variations are countless and allow everyone to indulge in the most disparate ingredients. Among foreign toast recipes, the croque monsieur—or French toast—is one of the most appreciated and popular even in our country. Bread, ham, cheese, and béchamel: just four ingredients for what is a real explosion of flavor, with a significant caloric intake. 

To make a hearty croque monsieur, first prepare the béchamel sauce. Heat the milk in a saucepan—or even better in a kettle—and in the meantime, melt the butter in another pot, taking care to keep the flame low. As soon as the butter is melted, pour in the sifted flour and mix with an electric whisk at the lowest speed. Pour in the milk and let the mixture thicken, then salt and flavor with nutmeg. Now place the slices of bread on a surface and spread them with butter and two tablespoons of béchamel each. Add two slices of cooked ham and a sprinkle of grated Gruyère, and create an additional surface with the remaining slices of bread, properly buttered and covered with béchamel. At this point, all that remains is to cook them with our toaster and serve them hot and stringy.

Gourmet avocado toast with ricotta and grilled corn 

For a truly gourmet toast, we can treat ourselves to the explosive flavor of one with avocado, ricotta, and grilled corn. To prepare it, take a ripe and rather soft avocado, cut it in half, pit it, and scoop out the pulp using a teaspoon. Proceed to mash it, simultaneously mixing it with the juice of a lemon, salt, and pepper, until you obtain a cream. Toast the slices of bread or sandwich bread and cover them while still hot with a thin layer of fresh ricotta, avocado, and grilled corn. Then season with a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil and enough pepper. The most indulgent can also add a few strips of smoked salmon or soft-boiled egg. 

Quick vegetarian toast recipe

If you are convinced that the American origins of the toast necessarily make it a meal unsuitable for a light and quick lunch break, you will have to change your mind. We can, in fact, prepare a vegetarian toast suitable for those who have chosen not to consume meat, but absolutely do not want to give up on flavor. In this variation with zucchini, pumpkin, peppers, chickpeas, and paprika, it is also suitable for vegans, with a very simple procedure to follow. Start by draining the chickpeas and blending them together with lemon juice, paprika, salt, pepper, a drizzle of oil, and a few thyme leaves. You can also add two teaspoons of water to make the mixture even lighter.

Once a creamy consistency is reached, put it in a bowl and let it rest in the cool. Now we can clean and cut the zucchini, along with the pumpkin and pepper. Once they are all grilled, we can spread the chickpea cream on the bread, add the grilled vegetables as desired, a few drops of balsamic glaze, and some thyme leaves. After pouring a drizzle of oil, grill our veg-toast with one of the Ariete toasters. 

Pastrami toast sandwich

Among the most original toast recipes, it is impossible not to mention that of the pastrami toast, which is directly inspired by the namesake sandwich now a cult favorite in diners across the ocean. Despite the abundant filling, this is also a snack that lends itself well to a light and quick meal. The first step asks us to slice a white onion into rings and caramelize them. Put the sliced cheddar cheese on one of the rye bread slices, add 5 slices of pastrami, and salt and pepper to taste. Slice some mushrooms in oil and add them to the onions, close with the other slice of bread, grill, and enjoy our toast with clear Romanian origins. 

Prosciutto toast with dried figs

To conclude, a variation of a great classic. Although there are many delicious toast recipes, the one with panettone, prosciutto crudo (cured ham), and dried figs is a real delicacy. Prepare it by first slicing the dried figs, then brush the panettone slices with 10 grams of melted butter. Salt and pepper the slices to taste and let them brown in the toaster. Now we can cover them with a layer of dried figs and prosciutto, and use two more slices of well-buttered and grilled panettone to close the toast, ready to conquer us with its delicately sweet and sour flavor.