Unleash Your Creativity: The Art of Unlimited Sandwich Decorating

The sandwich is named after John Montagu, the 4th Earl of Sandwich, who requested meat between two slices of bread so he could eat while still playing cards.

This simple yet brilliant idea quickly gained popularity and evolved into the widely consumed and beloved food item that we know today.

Open-face sandwich, aka Tartine

What is the best way to serve a sandwich with a presentation? Keep both slices of bread on the bottom. Open-face sandwiches, aka Tartines, have been delighting taste buds for decades with their simple yet satisfying qualities.

Tartine is a fancy French open-faced sandwich topped with spreadable ingredients. It’s a chic little sandwich by French standards, but it’s not closed for presentation purposes. Two slices of bread (or one, if you’re eating light) can be smeared with either sweet or savory toppings.

Spread the Love: Elevate Your Open-Face Sandwiches with Irresistible Spreads!

Unlike traditional sandwiches, open-face sandwiches feature just one slice of bread with a variety of delicious toppings carefully arranged on top. This not only allows for creative and visually appealing presentations but also encourages the use of fresh and high-quality ingredients.

One key advantage of open-face sandwiches is the ability to pile the toppings high, creating a perfect balance of flavors and textures. Whether it’s a classic bruschetta with fresh tomatoes, basil, and mozzarella or a Scandinavian smørrebrød with smoked salmon and dill, open-face sandwiches offer a diverse range of culinary possibilities.

Get inspired to elevate your open-face sandwiches with a tantalizing array of spreads. From classic hummus and tangy tzatziki to savory pesto and zesty sundried tomato aioli, there’s no limit to the delicious combinations you can create. Whether you’re craving a light and refreshing option or a rich and indulgent spread, the world of open-sandwich spreads offers endless inspiration for a culinary adventure.

Exploring the Endless Spectrum of Tartine Ingredients

Another hallmark of open-face sandwiches is the opportunity for customization. From savory options like avocado, grilled vegetables, and hummus to sweet variations featuring Nutella, berries, and honey, there’s a tartine to suit every palate and occasion. Beyond their gastronomic appeal, open-face sandwiches also present a unique dining experience.

When it comes to creating delicious tartines, the possibilities are endless. From savory options like prosciutto, fig, and goat cheese to sweet combinations such as ricotta, honey, and fresh berries, the world of tartine ingredients offers a tantalizing array of flavors and textures to explore. Whether you prefer a classic, time-honored recipe or seek to experiment with bold, unexpected pairings, there’s something for every palate when it comes to crafting the perfect tartine.

Enjoying these delightful creations often calls for utensils, elevating the act of savoring each bite and engaging with the meal in a more mindful manner.

In conclusion, open-face sandwiches embody the perfect marriage of artistry and gastronomy, offering a delightful feast for the senses that can be tailored to anyone’s tastes. Whether as an elegant appetizer, a satisfying lunch, or a creative snack, open-face sandwiches continue to hold a special place in the world of culinary delights.

Savory Sourdough French Toast with Mushrooms

This delicious French toast is topped with a simple salad of arugula, radishes, and seared mushrooms, making it the perfect dish for breakfast or dinner.

Ingredients:

For the salad

• 2 cups loosely packed arugula, chopped
• 5 to 6 radishes, thinly sliced (a mandoline works best here)
• 1 teaspoon freshly squeezed lemon juice
• 1 tablespoon plus 1/2 teaspoon olive oil, divided
• Flaky salt
• Freshly ground black pepper
• 8 ounces small cremini mushrooms, trimmed & halved

For the sandwich

• 3 large eggs
• 2/3 cup buttermilk
• 2/3 cup half-and-half (Half whole milk, half heavy cream)
• 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
• 1/2 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
• 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
• Pinch of salt
• 8 slices sourdough or rustic bread
• 4 teaspoons extra-virgin olive oil, divided
• 2 tablespoons butter, divided

You can use Crème fraîche and fresh chives for the serving.

Instructions:

• Make the salad: Place the arugula, radishes, lemon juice and 1 teaspoon of the olive oil in a medium bowl. Season with flaky salt and black pepper and toss to combine.
• Heat the remaining 1 tablespoon oil in a large cast-iron skillet over medium-high heat until shimmering. Swirl the to coat the bottom with oil.
• Add the mushrooms and vigorously agitate pan, coating them in the hot fat. Arrange the mushrooms cut-side down and sear undisturbed for 2 minutes. Shake the pan and sear for 1 minute more.
• Transfer the cooked mushrooms to the bowl with the arugula and radishes.
• Make the tartine: Meanwhile, whisk the eggs, buttermilk, half-and-half, cayenne, nutmeg, black pepper, and salt until incorporated in a shallow bowl or baking dish.
• Dip 4 slices of the bread into the egg mixture. Turn to coat both sides, puncturing them a couple times as you do so with a fork.
• Add 2 teaspoons of the oil to the pan and swirl to coat. Place over medium heat.
• Add the dipped bread and 1/2 tablespoon of the butter; drag the butter around the perimeter of the bread as it sizzles.
• Cook until golden-brown, flipping once and adding another 1/2 tablespoon of butter when you flip, 1 to 2 minutes per side. Transfer the sandwiches to plates.
• Repeat with the remaining bread.
• Toss the salad mixture and spoon on top of the French toast. Season with flaky salt and black pepper, top with a dollop of creme fraiche if desired, and sprinkle with chives.
• Eat immediately.

Best ever party tartines!

Looking for quick and easy entertaining recipes?

Check out these super simple party tartines – quick and easy recipes for New Year’s Eve. More substantial than canapés, these pretty open sandwiches will satisfy the greediest guests.

Tartines with salt beef, mustard mayo and pickled cucumbers

Toss a few slices of cucumber with a splash of white wine vinegar, a good pinch of sugar, and a pinch of dried red chili flakes.

Mix equal amounts of American mustard with mayonnaise and spread over slices of toast.

Layer on thin slices of salt beef, then top with the cucumber slices and some chopped dill.

Open-Faced Grilled Vegetable Tartines

You can totally serve these tartines, which are basically fancy grilled vegetable toast, as a light meal, part of a snack board supper, or as a party appetizer.

The possibilities for serving them are endless.

This particular tartine is our favorite: glossy grilled vegetables piled onto grilled, crusty bread, smeared with creamy goat cheese, and finished with a generous shower of finely chopped fresh mint – we’re drooling just thinking about it!

Ingredients:

• 1 medium (8-inch) zucchini
• 2 medium red or yellow bell pepper
• 1 medium red onion
• 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil, plus extra for bread
• 1/2 teaspoon salt, plus more to taste
• Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
• 1 large round loaf crusty bread, such as sourdough, or Italian
• 4 ounces (chèvre) fresh mild goat cheese
• 1/2 lemon
• 2 tablespoons fresh mint, finely chopped

Instructions:

• Preheat your grill, aiming for medium-high heat, about 400°F if using a gas grill. If you don’t have a grill you can cook the vegetables and toast the bread on the stove top, in a grill pan or roast them on a parchment-lined sheet pan in a 400°F oven until tender.
• Cut zucchini on the diagonal into 1/4-inch-thick slices. Cut the peppers – remove the stem and seeds and cut into 1/2-inch-thick pieces. Peel the outer skin off the onion and cut into 1/2-inch-thick rounds, keeping the rings intact.
• Lay the vegetables on a baking sheet, keeping the onions, peppers, and zucchini grouped separately, and drizzle with the olive oil. Season with 1/2 teaspoon salt and fresh black pepper to taste.
• Use your hands to gently coat the veggies with the oil and seasonings. Do your best to keep the rings of onion from separating. Set aside until ready to grill.
• Cut four 1/2-inch-thick slices from the center of the bread so they are generous in size (leftover bread can be saved for another use). Brush lightly with olive oil using a pastry brush or drizzle with a spoon and season both sides with a pinch of salt.
• Lay the peppers and onions on the grill and cook, turning occasionally until the vegetables are lightly caramelized, glossy, and tender, 6 to 10 minutes. The peppers will likely be done first.
• When the peppers and onions are nearly done, add the zucchini and bread onto the grill. Grill until the zucchini is striped with grill marks on both sides and the bread is lightly browned around the edges, about 2 minutes total.
• Assemble the tartines: spread the goat cheese over the surface of the bread. Lay the zucchini, peppers, and onion on top (you may have extra vegetables, which are delicious to eat on the side).
• Squeeze lemon juice over top and season with salt and black pepper, to taste.
• Scatter with the fresh mint and serve immediately.

Party Tartine with avocado

You’ve got to try these tartines with crispy bread, avocado hummus, sliced avocado, fresh tomatoes, a sprinkle of sea salt, and a drizzle of Extra Virgin Olive Oil.

They’re seriously delicious and will win you over every time.

Ingredients:

• 1 loaf of bread, sliced thick
• Extra Virgin Olive Oil
• Avocado, smashed
• 2 Avocados, sliced
• Cherry Tomatoes, quartered
• Cumin Spice Salt
• 1 lemon, zested

Instructions:

• Preheat oven to 350°F.
• Drizzle the slices of bread with olive oil and bake until golden, about 10 minutes.
• Spread the smashed avocado or avocado hummus across the toasted bread.
• Top with sliced avocado, tomatoes, a sprinkle of sea salt, and lemon zest.
• Cut each tartine into triangles and drizzle with more Greek Olive Oil.
• Enjoy!

Artful Tips for Delicious Decoration

As you can see in the recipes above, when it comes to tartine decoration, the possibilities are endless.

Fresh and colorful ingredients like sliced avocado, tomatoes, microgreens, radishes, edible flowers, and a drizzle of high-quality olive oil can take tartines to the next level.

Consider adding a sprinkle of sea salt, a dash of herbs, or a squeeze of lemon for an extra burst of flavor.

You can also create various ornaments and shapes from vegetables, which will give the sandwiches a festive look.

A small cookie cutter can be used to cut thin slices of vegetables into shapes that can be used to decorate sandwiches.

Decorations that complete everything

If you want to to elevate your canapés and sandwiche, get creative with your decorations by using various ingredients to create beautiful and tasty embellishments.

Try crafting delicate salami flowers to adorn your platters for a unique and visually appealing touch. Watch the video below showing instructions how to make the salami flower as a decoration for your canapes or for the platter:

Make a Salami Rose and 4 Ways to Display Charcuterie Meat [Easy Tutorial]

You can also experiment with different shapes and textures by using vegetables, cheeses, and herbs to add a trendy and artistic flair to your canapés. Remember, the key is to have fun and let your imagination run wild!

When serving, you can alternate different types of sandwiches on the tray, thus creating a more colorful service.

Enjoy your meal!