Today, I decided to dive into the “Italian Open” – not the tennis tournament, but creating an open-faced sandwich inspired by Italian flavors. I’ve been craving something fresh and flavorful, and this seemed like the perfect quick lunch project.
Getting Started
First, I raided my fridge and pantry. I found some leftover crusty bread – perfect! Then, I spotted some fresh mozzarella, some sad-looking tomatoes that needed to be used up, and a jar of pesto I’d almost forgotten about. I also grabbed some prosciutto from the deli drawer, because, why not?
The Build
- I sliced the bread in half, creating two generous open-faced canvases.
- Then, I drizzled some olive oil on the bread – just a little, to get things going.
- Next, I spread a thin layer of that pesto on each slice. The smell was already amazing.
- I layered the sliced tomatoes on top of the pesto, followed by the fresh mozzarella.
- Finally, I draped a few slices of prosciutto over the mozzarella. It looked so good already!
The Finish
I popped the open-faced sandwiches under the broiler for just a few minutes, until the cheese was melted and bubbly and the bread was a bit crispy at the edges.
While waiting, I found basil leaves,so I chopped a few fresh basil leaves to sprinkle on top, for that extra touch of freshness.
The taste? Seriously good. The salty prosciutto, the creamy mozzarella, the sweet tomatoes, and the herby pesto – all on top of that crispy, olive oil-soaked bread. It was the perfect quick lunch, and it definitely satisfied my Italian craving.
I devoured it!
