Tomato Toasts with Herbed Cream Cheese

Active Time:

10 mins

Total Time:

10 mins

Servings:

2

Nutrition Profile:

No Added Sugar Sesame-Free Nut-Free Soy-Free Vegetarian Egg-Free Gluten-Free

Jump to Nutrition Facts

Tomato Toast with Herbed Cream Cheese is the perfect savory toast recipe! We lighten it up by using half cream cheese and half low-fat plain Greek-style yogurt, which creates a luscious, creamy spread for the toasty whole-wheat bread. Fresh, herby chives and dill and spicy black pepper season the cream cheese mixture, which is topped with plump, juicy tomato slices, a sprinkling of salt and a drizzle of heart-healthy olive oil. Keep reading for expert tips, including how to pick the perfect tomato.

Tips from the EatingWell Test Kitchen

These are the key tips we learned while developing and testing this recipe in our Test Kitchen to make sure it works, tastes great and is good for you too!

Look for ripe tomatoes with smooth skins that are firm to the touch but not squishy. If you choose smaller tomatoes (5 to 6 ounces), the slices will fit on the toast better.
If the tomatoes are super juicy, put them on paper towels to absorb some extra moisture before placing them on the cream cheese mixture.
For a shortcut, purchase garden herb cream cheese from the grocery store and skip the fresh herbs.
The cream cheese mixture can be made ahead and stored in the fridge for up to 5 days. Discard it when the herbs begin to brown.

Nutrition Notes

The cream cheese and Greek yogurt in the herbed cream cheese spread provide a little bit of protein, calcium and vitamin A. The combination of the protein and fat in the spread helps balance out the carbs in the bread, slowing digestion and providing a steadier release of fuel into the bloodstream. This helps manage blood sugar. The dill, chives and black pepper in the spread add some antioxidants and small amounts of vitamins and minerals.
Besides being heartier than bread made with refined white flour, whole-wheat bread provides more fiber. This means that it takes longer to digest, keeping you full longer. It’s also good for preventing constipation, since fiber helps keep things moving through the gut.
Tomatoes may be shunned by some people due to their lectin content, but there is not strong enough evidence to support avoiding them for that reason—except for some cases of IBS and autoimmune diseases. Tomatoes are loaded with antioxidants and other nutrients that have been linked with reducing heart disease and cancer risk.

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Ingredients

¼ cup cream cheese (2 ounces), at room temperature
1 tablespoon low-fat plain strained (Greek-style) yogurt
1 tablespoon sliced fresh chives, plus more for garnish
1 tablespoon chopped fresh dill
¼ teaspoon ground pepper, plus more for garnish
2 (½-inch) slices country-style whole-wheat bread, lightly toasted
6 (¼-inch) slices heirloom tomato (from 2 small)
Pinch of salt
1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil

Directions

Stir cream cheese, yogurt, chives, dill and pepper together in a small bowl until well combined.

Photographer: Morgan Hunt Glaze, Prop Stylist: Priscilla Montiel, Food Stylist: Julian Hensarling
Spread the cream cheese mixture on 1 side of each toast slice. Top with tomato slices. Sprinkle with salt and drizzle with oil. Garnish with additional chives and pepper, if desired.

Photographer: Morgan Hunt Glaze, Prop Stylist: Priscilla Montiel, Food Stylist: Julian Hensarling

Frequently Asked Questions

What pairs well with tomato toast?

Tomato toast can be a meal in itself, but it’s excellent paired with eggs cooked any which way, including our Diner-Style Scrambled Eggs. It would also go well with our Leafy Green Salad.
How are heirloom tomatoes different from regular tomatoes?

A tomato can only be called an heirloom if the seeds are passed down through the generations, and it has been bred true for at least 40 to 50 years. Heirlooms are primarily bred for flavor and not for durable skin, so you won’t often find them at the grocery store, but they do make a great addition to this toast. They can’t be shipped easily, the plant yield is low and they come with a short shelf life—resulting in a high price tag. If you love heirloom tomatoes, consider growing them yourself.
What’s the best way to store tomatoes?

Store fresh, ripe tomatoes stem-side down in a cool, dark place. Keep them away from other fruits and vegetables that may emit ethylene gas and cause overripening. You can refrigerate fully ripe tomatoes (stem-side down). They can last for about a week in the fridge, but it will compromise their flavor and texture. For sliced tomatoes, place them in an airtight container and store them in the refrigerator.

EatingWell.com, July 2024

Nutrition Facts (per serving)

257	Calories
18g	Fat
18g	Carbs
7g	Protein

Nutrition Facts
Servings Per Recipe 2
Serving Size 1 toast
Calories 257
% Daily Value *
Total Carbohydrate 18g	7%
Dietary Fiber 3g	10%
Total Sugars 4g
Protein 7g	14%
Total Fat 18g	23%
Saturated Fat 7g	35%
Cholesterol 29mg	10%
Vitamin A 124Âµg
Vitamin C 10mg	11%
Vitamin D 0Âµg
Vitamin E 2mg	16%
Folate 28Âµg
Vitamin K 16Âµg
Sodium 310mg	13%
Calcium 97mg	7%
Iron 1mg	6%
Magnesium 35mg	8%
Potassium 286mg	6%
Zinc 1mg	8%
Vitamin B12 0Âµg
Omega 3 0g

Nutrition information is calculated by a registered dietitian using an ingredient database but should be considered an estimate.

* Daily Values (DVs) are the recommended amounts of nutrients to consume each day. Percent Daily Value (%DV) found on nutrition labels tells you how much a serving of a particular food or recipe contributes to each of those total recommended amounts. Per the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the daily value is based on a standard 2,000 calorie diet. Depending on your calorie needs or if you have a health condition, you may need more or less of particular nutrients. (For example, it’s recommended that people following a heart-healthy diet eat less sodium on a daily basis compared to those following a standard diet.)

(-) Information is not currently available for this nutrient. If you are following a special diet for medical reasons, be sure to consult with your primary care provider or a registered dietitian to better understand your personal nutrition needs.

Additional reporting by

Carrie Myers, M.S.

and

Linda Frahm

Sources

EatingWell is committed to using high-quality, reputable sources—including peer-reviewed studies—to support the facts in our articles. Read about our editorial policies and standards to learn more about how we fact check our content for accuracy.