There is a direct correlation between the mercury dropping and a rise in our desire for a golden, crunchy toastie. Perhaps one of the culinary world's most misunderstood – and underrated – dishes, the toastie will always have a very sacred and special place in our hearts. Maybe it's got something to do with a childhood nostalgia for the days our Mum would slap together slices of white bread with a slice of American cheese, or maybe it's just a sign of our desire for a comforting winter meal. But these days we're craving something a little more sophisticated – or at least, decadent.
If you're also feeling like there's a void in your appetite only a toastie could fill, these are the best toastie recipes to try up first.
1. Balsamic Beetroot, Roast Beef and Feta Toastie by Mandy Maiorano
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This 10-minute, 7-ingredient toastie by Adelaide's Mandy Maiorano is pretty decadent – and the final instalment of her social toastie series. Here, she brings together sweet beets, salty feta and rich roast beef and mint that cuts right through it all, encased in golden, crispy sourdough.
2. Cheeseburger Toastie by Andy Cooks
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Feeling indecisive? Andy Cooks has made a hybrid that could satisfy your most outlandish of cravings – a jaffle-turned-cheeseburger complete with all the fixings. American cheese, sliced pickles, and homemade burger sauce.
3. Chicken Pesto Avocado Toastie by Isabella Raso
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This Chicken Pesto Avocado Toastie by nutritionist Isabella Raso is the homemade lunch that somehow tastes straight from your favourite café – and it's the one you'll find yourself returning to time and again. Crispy sourdough, juicy roast chicken, creamy avocado, pesto and gooey mozzarella come together in under 10 minutes for the ultimate easy lunch.
4. Black Garlic, Mushroom & Cheese Toastie by Noosa Black Garlic
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Forget everything you thought you knew about a cheese toastie. Crisp sourdough, caramelised mushrooms, molten cheese and Noosa Black Garlic Caramelised Paste deliver a deeply savoury, sweet and utterly irresistible bite – made even better with a finishing touch of Black Garlic Salt or Black Garlic Honey.
5. Courgette, Pesto and Cheese Toastie by Georgina Davis
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Golden, crisp and filled with buttery courgettes, vibrant basil pesto and plenty of melted cheese, this toastie is the kind of lunch you'll want to make on repeat. This one by London-based private chef, food stylist, and recipe writer Georgina Davis is finished with fresh lemon zest for a bright lift.
6. Garlic Cheese Toasties by Jill Dupleix
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As the culinary editor of AFR Magazine, we're trusting of just about any recipe Dupleix is slinging. And this garlic-bread-cheese-toastie hybrid is winner.
7. Fig, N'duja and Goat's Cheese Toastie by Esther Clark
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Why have a cheese board when you could simply wrap up all the best bits and toast them between two slices of golden sourdough? That's kind of the premise behind chef Esther Clark's rich, spicy and sweet toastie iteration.
8. Prosciutto, Caramelised Leek, Comté and Mustard Toastie by Georgina Davis
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Another gold-star recipe from our girl Georgina. Caramelised leek? Comté? Prosciutto? It's basically all of our favourite food buzzwords put together.
