How to Make Melba Toast in 5 Easy Steps

Some of the most common soup accompaniments are bread or accompaniments made using bread. These come in various forms and originate from different parts of the world. One accompaniment that you might enjoy with your soup is melba toast, especially if you prefer something crispy to add texture. Here is how to make melba toast.

What is Melba Toast?

Melba toast is a thin and crispy form of toast that is made by slicing bread thinly, says Wikipedia. It is a popular soup accompaniment, and you can also serve it with pate, cheese, and salads.

It is named after Dame Nellie Melba, which is the stage name of the Australian opera singer Helen Porter Mitchell. The toast was first made for the singer by chef Auguste Escoffier in 1897 when Mitchell was ill. It was given its name by Cesar Ritz, the proprietor of the hotel in which she was staying and Escoffier’s place of employment.

Another Interesting Fact…

Interestingly, Dame Nellie Melba also has a dessert named after her- the peach melba. This dessert was also made for the singer by Auguste Escoffier.

How to Make Melba Toast

All you will need to make this toast is a couple of slices of your favourite bread (white works best). The following five simple steps are how to make melba toast.

1. Take two slices of your favourite bread and lightly toast them on both sides under the grill.
2. Remove the bread from the grill and lie them flat on a chopping board. Using a bread knife, slice horizontally through the centre of each piece. You should now have four slices that are each toasted on one side.
3. Return the bread to the grill, uncooked side up and toast lightly before removing from the grill. You can opt to serve the toast now or to move on to step 4 to make a thinner melba toast.
4. Repeat step 2 so that you now have eight pieces of toast.
5. Finally, return the eight slices of bread to the grill, uncooked side up. Toast until a light golden colour on both sides.

Once you have completed these steps, you should have eight slices of crispy melba toast to serve with your soup.