Air Fryer
Air Fryer Mozzarella, Tomato & Pesto Toast
Nothing more, nothing less... but super delicious. This Air Fryer Mozzarella, Tomato & Pesto Toast is one of those ridiculously simple things that doesn't really feel like it needs a recipe, until you make it and realise you absolutely want to make it again. Thick slices of sourdough country bread are spread with pesto, layered with fresh tomato and sliced mozzarella, simply seasoned and then air fried until the bread is toasted and the mozzarella is beautifully melted. When the toast is almost ready, I add whole fresh basil leaves before letting it finish in the air fryer. Everything comes together in just 8 minutes at 180°C. Quick, easy and very, very good.
- Prep
- Approximately 5 mins
- Cook
- 8 mins total
- Air Fryer
- 180°C
- Difficulty
- Very easy
Ingredients
- Sourdough country bread
- Pesto
- Fresh mozzarella, sliced
- Fresh tomatoes, sliced
- Salt
- Black pepper
- Herbs
- Fresh basil leaves, kept whole
Method
- 01
Place the slices of sourdough country bread on a clean board or work surface.
- 02
Spread a layer of pesto over each slice of sourdough.
- 03
Arrange the fresh tomato slices over the pesto.
- 04
Add slices of fresh mozzarella, distributing them evenly across the toast.
- 05
Season with salt, black pepper and herbs.
- 06
Assemble the pesto, tomato and mozzarella toast completely on the board before placing it into the air fryer. Do not toast the sourdough separately first and do not add the fresh basil leaves yet.
- 07
Carefully transfer the assembled toast into the air fryer basket.
- 08
Air fry at 180°C.
- 09
When the toast is almost done and the mozzarella is nicely melted, open the air fryer and add whole fresh basil leaves over the top.
- 10
Return the basket to the air fryer and allow the toast to finish cooking. The total air frying time is approximately 8 minutes.
- 11
Once the sourdough is toasted, the mozzarella is beautifully melted and the basil has just warmed through, carefully remove the toast from the air fryer.
- 12
Serve immediately while the mozzarella is still warm and melted.
Air fryers vary slightly, so keep an eye on the toast towards the end. The 8 minutes is the total cooking time, including the short finish after the basil goes on.
A little from me
Lackie's Notes
Nothing more, nothing less... but super delicious. This is barely even a recipe, and that's exactly why I love it.
You don't need to toast the sourdough first. I assemble the pesto, tomato and fresh mozzarella directly on the bread before it goes into the air fryer. The pesto does a lot of the work here, so there's no need to add butter or olive oil to the bread.
And definitely use fresh mozzarella if you can. Once it melts over the tomatoes and pesto, that's pretty much the whole point.
I add the whole fresh basil leaves when the toast is almost ready rather than at the beginning. That way, the basil has enough time to warm and release some of its aroma without spending the entire cooking time inside the air fryer. Keep the leaves whole rather than chopping them.
Air fryers vary slightly, so keep an eye on your toast towards the end. You want beautifully melted mozzarella, toasted sourdough and fresh basil that has just warmed through.
Serve it with
Serving Suggestion
Serve immediately while the mozzarella is still warm and melted. This works beautifully as a quick breakfast, brunch, light lunch or easy snack. If you want something fresh alongside it, serve it with a simple salad. Or just eat the toast. Sometimes lunch doesn't need a supporting cast. For more ideas, browse my Air Fryer Recipes.
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