There are some people who don't like bread, but they are few and far between. There are so much to like about bread. The comfort of its smell when it is freshly baked. The sensory sensation of a crunchy crust or chewy interior. The brilliant base it makes for basic, but beautiful butter or exquisite and elaborate toppings. The fact that it really can be enjoyed with any meal. It works with plates and knives and also on a bare table and in bare hands. It always fills a spot - literal or figuratively. It is an affordable luxury. Something that you should be able to enjoy for its simultaneous wonderful simplicity and intricate complexity. Bread. Beautiful Bread.
But then, there is this issue of health - a really important one! Words like carbs and calories and gluten have made us shy of admitting our love for bread. We might crave the comfort of bread - when we need a little TLC ourselves or when we are pressed for time and have to feed our families.
But not all breads are created equal. When care goes into the growing of the grain, the milling of the flour, a slow fermentation process and eventually into the baking of the bread, you'll find that much of the concern are less concerning. We'll tell you more about the wellness of bread one of these days, but for now, trust as when we say: bread - real bread - is beautiful!
Celebrated food stylist, recipe developer and passionate cook and cookbook author, Sam Linsell are all about a healthy lifestyle and after chatting to the baking team at the La Motte Bakery and tasting the variety of breads, she came up with a selection of beautiful toppings to make you feel even better about choosing bread.
(Get your guilt-free bread from the La Motte Bakery, Wednesday to Sunday, 08:00 - 16:00. Order at bakery@la-motte.co.za to prevent disappointment.)
Cottage cheese toast topping ideas
Marinated tomatoes with basil
Transport yourself to the Mediterranean with this delightful recipe inspired by the classic bruschetta. Ripe baby tomatoes are marinated in Balsamic vinegar and olive oil, with the vibrant flavours of red onion and fragrant basil. Simple and delicious on a slice of toasted sourdough with smooth cottage cheese for a protein boost.
Recipe serves 2
2 slices of La Motte sourdough toasted
1 cup mixed baby tomatoes sliced in half (or any very rip tomatoes)
½ small red onion very finely diced
6 basil leaves shredded
1.5 Tbsp Balsamic vinegar
2 Tbsp good quality extra virgin Olive oil
Toast the sourdough as you like to.
6 Tbsp smooth low fat cottage cheese (or any cottage cheese of your choice)
Sea salt and black pepper
Toss the sliced tomatoes with the red onions, shredded basil, vinegar and olive oil. Season with salt and pepper and allow these to marinate for about 5 – 10 minutes.
When you are ready to serve, toast the sourdough the way you like to. For added flavour, brush the bread with olive oil and pan fry on a flat or griddle pan.
Spread the toast generously with the smooth cottage cheese and top with the marinated tomatoes. Drizzle any leftover dressing or additional olive oil over the toast.
Herby cottage cheese with avocado and smoked trout
Elevate your toast game with whole wheat bread toast with herby cottage cheese, avocado slices, and trout ribbons. Garnish with chopped chives and a squeeze of fresh lemon juice.
This recipe makes 4 large slices or 6 small slices of whole wheat bread toast
250gms low fat crumbly or smooth cottage cheese
A generous few sprigs of basil, parsley and dill
Juice of ¼ of a lemon (and the rest of the lemon for garnish)
Salt and black pepper to taste
1 avocado sliced
100gms smoked trout ribbons
1 tbs finely chopped chives
6 slices of La Motte wholewheat bread (or 4 larger slices)
Add the cottage cheese, herbs, lemon juice and salt and pepper to a small food processor and blend until smooth.
Slice the avocado and chop the chives.
Spread the herbed cottage cheese over the whole wheat toast and top with sliced avocado, smoked trout ribbons and chives. Squeeze the lemon juice over the top and crack black pepper.
Smooth cottage cheese with strawberries, blueberries, honey and walnuts
This breakfast tartine is perfect with La Motte toasted ciabatta. A generous drizzle of honey and a scattering of walnuts will have you thinking you are eating cheesecake flavoured toast. Use cream cheese for a more decadent treat.
2 slices la Motte ciabatta, toasted
4 – 6 Tbsp smooth low fat or full fat cottage cheese
2 – 4 fresh strawberries, sliced
12 blueberries
1 ½ Tbs chopped walnuts or pistachios (or any nut of your choice)
1/1/2 - 2 Tbsp honey
Top La Motte toasted ciabatta with a generous spread of smooth cottage cheese. Add sliced strawberries, a few blueberries and drizzle over honey and scatter over chopped walnuts.
