> Skip to content

Recipe  •  14 September 2023

 

Open-faced broccoli melts

Have fun with your toasted sandwiches.

I am always shocked at how much my kids love these veggie toasts-which are such an easy (and unexpected) dinner. We sometimes even have them as an appetizer when we have soup for dinner (and using the word appetizer can instantly make it seem special to kids). Serve with rotisserie chicken, scrambled eggs, or cut-up fruit as desired.


Prep Time:
5 minutes
Cook Time: 8 minutes
Serves: 4 to 6

INGREDIENTS

  • 12 ounces frozen broccoli florets
  • One 12-ounce loaf multigrain bread, Italian bread, or sourdough bread, cut into 1-inch slices
  • ¼ cup unsalted butter
  • 1 tablespoon finely grated lemon zest, plus 1 tablespoon lemon juice
  • 6 slices mozzarella cheese

 

METHOD

  1. Prepare the broccoli according to the package directions.

  2. Drain the broccoli in a colander and pat dry with a clean kitchen towel.

  3. Using kitchen scissors, coarsely mince the broccoli.

  4. Meanwhile, turn the broiler to high and place the bread on a baking sheet. Lightly toast for 2 minutes. Remove from the oven.

  5. Spread the bread with the butter and then cover with the broccoli. Add a little lemon zest and lemon juice to each slice. Top with a half slice of mozzarella-or as much as you need to cover the top of each slice of bread.

  6. Put back under the broiler for 2 minutes, or until the cheese melts and is just starting to brown.

  7. Serve the toasts warm.

 

NOTES

• Use fresh broccoli if you prefer. Place fresh broccoli into a pot and just cover with water. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat and cook for 4 to 6 minutes, or unt il fork-tender.
• Swap in cauliflower, peas, or halved cherry tomatoes for the broccoli to vary this meal.
• Sprinkle the toasts with a little salt before serving, if desired.
• Store leftovers in the fridge in an a irtight container for up to 5 days. Reheat on a baking sheet in a 375° F oven for 4 to 6 minutes, or in a toaster oven until warmed through.

More features

See all recipes
Recipe
One-pot pasta primavera

Perfect one-pot pasta.

Recipe
Skillet Lasagna

Move your lasagna from the oven to the skillet.

Recipe
Whipped yoghurt with roasted strawberries and peanut fudge sauce

The lime-roasted strawberries and peanut fudge sauce are essentially a refined combination of peanut butter and jelly and boy do they sing together!

Recipe
Jerk chicken with coleslaw

Steph was a Jamaican chef Helen worked with many years ago in Melbourne.

Recipe
Butterbean mash with Muhammara

Muhammara is a spicy Levantine dip made from red peppers and walnuts.

Recipe
Breakfast potatoes

This is a combination of two great Spanish potato dishes: patatas a lo pobre (poor man’s potatoes) and huevos rotos (broken eggs).

Recipe
Roast chicken and cabbage with soy butter

There are many ways to make cabbage delicious but it’s hard to improve on butter.

Recipe
Mango barfi bites

From the heart of Indian sweet culture, these combine tropical mango pulp with desiccated coconut.

Recipe
Crostata ai Frutti di Bosco (Berry Tart)

This tart is the kind of dessert you'll spot behind glass in a typical Italian Pasticceria

Recipe
Tofu katsu makhani

This dish is a celebration of textures: crunchy tofu cutlet, creamy Makhani Sauce (page 30), and refreshingly crisp cabbage.

Recipe
Drunken noodles (with any meat)

Easy to make and versatile, these stir-fried noodles suggest inebriation to the extent that after a night of drinking, many people crave noodles like these-salty garlicky, spicy, and herbaceous.

Recipe
Honey-BBQ fajitas with chipotle mayo

A twist on your standard fajitas with even bolder flavours.

Looking for more recipes?

See all recipes
penguin pop image
penguin pop image