Hot Honey & Strawberry Toast

It's strawberry season and this perfectly punchy and well balanced toast is an ideal refreshing summer breakfast. The Calabrian chili paste in this recipe makes for a flavorful hot honey that pairs so well with the ultra-creamy mascarpone cheese and ripe summer strawberries. It's all about the combination of crusty bread, ripe fruit, creamy cheese, and zesty hot honey so feel free to use whatever fruit, cheese, and chili paste you prefer. This would be incredible with ricotta, cream cheese, or burrata as the base with peaches (omg imagine grilled peaches), black berries, figs, or even pineapple. 

Serves 4

INGREDIENTS

1/4 cup honey 

2 teaspoons chili paste, or to taste  (I love this one)

1/2 teaspoon flaky salt, plus more for serving

4 slices of thick-cut crusty bread, toasted

6-8oz mascarpone cheese, or other spreadable cheese like ricotta 

8oz strawberries, sliced 

Pistachios, roughly chopped, for serving

METHOD

1. In a small skillet over medium low heat, add the honey, chili paste, and 1/2 teaspoon of flaky salt. Stir to combine, bring to a heavy simmer, and remove from the heat. 

2. Spread about 2 oz of cheese onto each piece of toast and top with the sliced strawberries. Spoon over about a tablespoon of the hot honey and sprinkle with pistachios and more flaky salt.