tostato

Tostato is an Italian adjective meaning toasted. As a noun, the term can denote bread or other foods that have been browned by heat; most commonly pane tostato refers to slices of bread that have been toasted until golden brown.

In Italian cuisine, toast is a common component of breakfast and snacks. Pane tostato may be eaten plain or with butter, jam, or honey, and it also serves as a base for savory toppings such as tomatoes, olive oil, and herbs. The technique of toasting is also central to dishes such as bruschetta, where slices of bread are toasted or grilled, rubbed with garlic, and finished with olive oil and toppings. A toasted sandwich, or panino tostato, is another popular preparation.

Toasting is usually achieved with devices known as toasters (tostapane) or toaster ovens; bread slices can also be toasted in a skillet, on a grill, or in a hot oven. In addition to plain toast, Italian cuisine includes fette biscottate, which are twice-toasted crackers eaten for breakfast or as a snack.

Etymology: the term derives from the verb tostare, related to the Latin root tostum, and is cognate with the English term toast.

See also: Bruschetta, Panino, Fette biscottate.