Tartines are appealing, easy, versatile, and lighter than normal sandwiches. They’re an ideal party appetizer but also a decent lunch or dinner.

You can top them with just about anything, but try to keep these a few rules in mind.photos coco zordan

Use sturdy bread : Dense, nutty multi-grain or hearty slices are better. Click here for my No-Knead Rustic Bread Recipe

Toast the bread : Toasting gives the bread sturdy crunch so it won’t get soggy under the toppings.

Dress the bread: drizzle some olive oil on, add butter, mayo, jam, pesto, hummus, or whatever your favorite condiment may be. Finally, season the bread with salt and pepper (when going savory).

Stack smart: Small ingredients like capers or diced onion should go right against the bread—they’ll stick to the spread instead of falling off. When layering, alternate textured ingredients like lettuce with slippery ones like sliced tomatoes.

Trivia: Germans have large tartines with cheese and ham every night, not by chance their word for dinner is “Abendbrot“, literally evening bread.