Monday, May 04, 2009

25 tartine ideas

A tartine is an open-faced sandwich, built on a foundation of sliced French bread. Infinitely versatile and easy to prepare, tartines are the answer to every dinner crisis, allowing you to throw together a healthy, nutritious meal with all the insouciance of a French femme fatale.

You can toast your tartines for about 10-15 minutes in a 350 oven – my preference. [First, spread the bread with oil or Veganaise.] Or simply enjoy them room temperature, a no-brainer dinner option for steamy summer nights when it's too hot to cook. And since tartines are sanctioned finger food, they are très kid-friendly.

Top your tartines with just about anything you have on hand; your imagination and pantry are the only limits. As a special, added visual bonus, if you slice your baguette on the diagonal and serve them side-by-side, tartines resemble exotic butterflies [See photo]. Here are 25 tartine ideas to get you started:
  1. Arugula pesto [Pictured, above left]. In a food processor, mix about 2 cups of arugula, some walnuts or pine nuts, and about 5 garlic cloves. Add enough extra-virgin olive oil until it reaches a spreadable consistency. This pesto is also wonderful tossed with pasta, smeared on grilled tofu or thinned with balsamic vinegar to use a salad dressing
  2. Spinach, onion, garlic and dried cherries [Pictured, above right], sautéed in olive oil and seasoned with a pinch of nutmeg
  3. Mushrooms and fresh herbs [Pictured, above bottom], sauteed in Earth Balance with garlic and a splash of Marsala or Sherry
  4. Tapenade, mixed with a bit of organic citrus zest
  5. Fava beans or edamame, mashed with roasted garlic
  6. Thinly sliced grilled eggplant, smeared with watered-down yellow miso
  7. Roasted red peppers and a healthy sprinkling of nutritional yeas
  8. Caramelized onions, toasted pine nuts and fresh rosemary with a splash of best-quality balsamic vinegar
  9. Your favorite vegan cheese and hot pepper flakes, with a drizzle of walnut oil
  10. Thinly sliced fennel, back olives and orange slices, served heated with a drizzle of fruity extra-virgin olive oil
  11. Leftover ratatouille
  12. Oil-soaked sun-dried tomatoes, vegan cream cheese and fresh basil, with salt and fresh ground pepper
  13. Mashed cannelloni beans and garlic with a dash of hot pepper oil
  14. Vegan slices, a "schmear" of Veganaise, capers and thinly sliced red onions
  15. A healthy drizzle of olive oil topped with tomatoes, oregano, and olives
  16. Cooked broccoli mashed into a paste with garlic, lemon and lemon zest
  17. Avocado slices, arugula and Veganaise
  18. Peas mashed with Earth Balance and tarragon
  19. Grilled radicchio, raisins and Earth Balance, with coarse sea salt
  20. Caponata and a healthy sprinkle of nutritional yeast
  21. Almond butter, dried cherries, and rosemary with a drizzle of agave nectar
  22. Grilled zucchini, dill and black olives
  23. Marinated seitan, dried apricots and apricot jam
  24. Vegan chocolate hazlenut spread, with or without organic raspberries [Tartines aren't just for dessert!]
  25. Bananas, agave nectar and cinnamon. Spread the bread with Earth Balance and toast first. This makes a great breakfast.

36 comments:

Eating Consciously said...

Whoa, that's a lot of ideas! They all sound amazing. Hey, I enjoyed your recipes in Grid this month ;)

Morgan said...

What possibilities.

You've inspired me to throw a french themed party with finger food, maybe a tea? Oh my friends will love this - thank you for your originality!

Robin said...

Wow, those all sound good!

Andrea said...

so many -and good- ideas : ) thanks !
i hope i can make some of them soon..

Amy said...

Yum! They look fantastic! And yay for quick and easy food!

Netty said...

That sounds very nice.

MizShrew said...

I've made this kind of thing before -- I didn't know it had an official name! I like it with white beans, garlic and rosemary layered with some sauteed spinach.

Lots of great ideas here, thank you!

Anonymous said...

WONDERFUL ideas! THANK YOU!

tavolini said...

mmmm! This sounds like a perfect picnic ;)

Unknown said...

i'm always a fan of the arugula/walnut or hazelnut pesto. i can't wait until the arugula in my garden gets big enough!

Rachel said...

Thank you! I've been falling short when it comes to new lunch ideas...you've inspired me!

Gab said...

Great ideas!

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L said...

Do you toast the bread first or toast the bread with the toppings?

MeloMeals said...

Yum! I love your ongoing creativity!

Anonymous said...

Number 24 is to DIE for. I tried it this morning. Fabulous recipe ideas! Thank you!

Melisser; the Urban Housewife said...

Ooh, open faced sandwiches are my fave! I'll take #25, dessert style!

urban vegan said...

Lindyann: You toast the bread with the toppings already on.

julie hasson said...

What a great post. They all sound delicious!

Fred Smilek said...

Those are alot of ideas, Very unique. Ive made some recipes that you have listed but now you have sparked many new ideas. THANK YOU!
www.fredjsmilek.com

jess (of Get Sconed!) said...

I want a mushroom tartine so much. I am seriously considering doing this with all the shiitakes I picked up yesterday....

Unknown said...

Man, those look awesome! I've never heard of tartine, but what do I know...thanks!

peace,
mike
livelife365

buffalodick said...

All the recipes looked and sounded great! I expect nothing less from you, dear..

buffalodick said...

They all sound great! Start a lunch cart for the vegetarians in Philly!

mamzelle yaya said...

c' est très tentant !
vous avez bcp de chance de pouvoir avoir bien plus de revues etc sur le gétalisme que nous!

For the Love of Guava said...

mmm so many tartines so little time!

Missy said...

Had no idea open-faced french bread sandwiches were referred to as "tartines".

Learn something new daily on the interwebs. Have had many a "tartine" in my life - hehe!

Love your many variation recipe ideas - will def bookmark. Thx!

Missy
GroovyVegetarian.com

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