Pan-fried toast is the ultimate indulgence, transforming simple ingredients into a delightful appetizer or snack. With its buttery crispness and rich balsamic and olive oil dip, this dish is perfect for serving on a buffet or as an indulgent snack.
Use Good Quality Olive Oil and Balsamic Vinegar
This is an easy and tasty recipe for toasted bread to dip in balsamic vinegar and olive oil. There are never any leftovers when I make it! This recipe is hard to mess up, but use good-quality extra-virgin olive oil and balsamic vinegar for the best flavor.
Toast the Bread with Butter
A thick-cut bread works best for this recipe. I used Sara Lee Artesano Bakery Bread in these photos because it is thick-sliced with a light texture. I have tried Italian bread and thick slices of brioche with good results.
Make the Dipping Sauce for Pan-Fried Toast
Choosing Balsamic Vinegar for Pan-Fried Toast
You can make a dipping sauce for the bread with balsamic vinegar and olive oil. Use good-quality vinegar and oil for the best taste. Buy an aged balsamic that is thick and sweet. I love the Olivier Balsamic Vinegar from Williams Sonoma. It is aged 25 years! The taste is noticeably sweeter and milder than other bottles of balsamic vinegar–which makes it perfect for dipping. However, there are other great aged balsamic vinegar bottles to choose from. Check with specialty food shops if you don’t already have a favorite.
Choosing Olive Oil for Pan-Fried Toast
Also, choose extra virgin olive oil for dipping. Williams Sonoma has a house brand of olive oil that gets good reviews, but you can use any extra virgin olive oil you prefer. If you are unfamiliar with olive oils, be careful when buying new brands you have not tried from discount stores. Unfortunately, some olive oils are counterfeit and are diluted with other oils.
Sprinkle Greens on Top of Pan-Fried toast
To finish the bread, sprinkle fresh-chopped or dried herbs on top. Enjoy!
Other Bread Recipes You Might Enjoy
Click on each photo to link to the recipe.
Pan-Fried Toast with Balsamic
Ingredients
- 4 slices thick sliced bread
- salted butter
- parmesan cheese, freshly grated
- 2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar, aged and sweet
- 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- ½ teaspoon dried herbs (such as rosemary, basil, chives, thyme, or oregano)
- sprinkle garlic salt to taste
Instructions
- Slice the bread diagonally. Add a little butter to a skillet and heat on medium-low to melt it, spreading it around the pan.
- Add several slices of bread and toast them on one side. Flip the bread and toast the other side, adding butter as needed. Repeat until all the bread is toasted.
- Place the bread on a platter and generously sprinkle freshly grated parmesan cheese over it. Sprinkle your favorite chopped herbs (fresh or dried) over the bread.
- Pour the balsamic vinegar and olive oil onto a plate. Add the herbs and garlic salt. Dip and enjoy!