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Overhead view of two slices of golden-toasted whole grain bread generously spread with fluffy white cottage cheese, topped with a colorful mix of sliced red and yellow cherry tomatoes, fresh chopped herbs, red chili flakes, and cracked black pepper, served on a speckled white ceramic plate resting on a bright white windowsill.

Air Fryer Cottage Cheese Tomato Toast

Dense sourdough bread spread thickly with full-fat cottage cheese, topped with thinly sliced mixed heirloom tomatoes, dried oregano, and chili flakes, then air fried at 190°C until crisp underneath and finished with fresh parsley.
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Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 6 minutes
Total Time 11 minutes
Servings: 2 people
Course: Breakfast
Cuisine: American
Calories: 285
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

  • 2 slices sourdough or dark rye bread Dense structured bread holds the cottage cheese without going soggy under the tomatoes
  • 0.5 cup full-fat cottage cheese Spread thickly to the edges and pressed into the bread surface so it stays anchored
  • 2 small heirloom or vine tomatoes, thinly sliced Mix red and orange-yellow for the color variation visible in the image; pat dry before using
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil Drizzled lightly over the tomato surface before the dried herbs go on
  • 0.5 teaspoon dried oregano Scattered over the tomatoes before air frying; does not burn like fresh herbs in dry heat
  • 0.25 teaspoon chili flakes The red specks visible across the tomato surface and around the plate in the image
  • flaky sea salt and black pepper Seasoned directly over the assembled toast before air frying
  • fresh flat-leaf parsley or basil, finely chopped Added after cooking only; the bright green garnish scattered over the finished toast in the image

Equipment

  • 1 Air fryer (3.5 litre minimum capacity) Preheated to 190°C for 3 minutes before the toast goes in
  • 1 Sharp knife and cutting board For slicing tomatoes no thicker than 5mm
  • 1 Wide spatula or tongs For transferring toast without disturbing the tomato layer
  • 1 White ceramic plate The plate shown in the image that provides contrast for the red and orange tomatoes
  • 1 Small spoon For spreading and pressing the cottage cheese layer firmly into the bread surface

Method
 

  1. Preheat the air fryer to 190°C for 3 minutes, then slice the heirloom tomatoes no thicker than 5mm and pat each slice gently with a paper towel to remove surface moisture.
  2. Spread cottage cheese generously and evenly across the full surface of each bread slice all the way to the edges, then press it gently into the bread with the back of a spoon so it stays anchored.
  3. Arrange thinly sliced tomatoes in slightly overlapping rows over the cottage cheese using a mix of red and orange-yellow slices to create the color variation visible in the image.
  4. Drizzle a small amount of olive oil evenly over the tomato surface, then scatter dried oregano, chili flakes, flaky sea salt, and black pepper across the full surface of both toasts.
  5. Place the assembled toasts carefully into the preheated air fryer basket and air fry at 190°C for 5 to 6 minutes without opening early until the bread is crisped underneath and the tomato edges have softened slightly.
  6. Remove carefully with a wide spatula keeping the tomato layer intact and transfer both pieces to a white ceramic plate side by side as shown in the image.
  7. Scatter freshly chopped flat-leaf parsley or basil generously over both pieces immediately so the bright green herb contrasts with the red and orange tomatoes as shown in the image.
  8. Add a final small pinch of chili flakes over the plate surface and around the toast edges for the scattered red specks visible in the image, then serve immediately while the bread is still crisp underneath.

Notes

Pat tomato slices dry before placing them on the cottage cheese to prevent excess moisture from thinning the cheese layer during cooking. Press the cottage cheese firmly into the bread surface so it stays anchored. Add fresh herbs only after the toast comes out of the air fryer as they burn in the dry circulating heat.