Cheese And Pesto Toastie
A jar of pesto with moringa sits in most fridges half-used, because most of us only think “pasta” when we see it. That’s one moringa pesto sauce use there are dozens more, and this cheesy toastie might be the easiest of them all. No stove-top sauce-making, no fancy technique just bread, cheese, and a generous smear of The Misfits Pesto with Moringa rolled up and pan-toasted until the outside is golden and the inside is properly melty. It takes fifteen minutes, most of which is just watching butter turn brown in a pan.
Why this recipe works
Pesto is built to cling the oil in it coats bread instead of soaking straight through, so rolling and pan-frying keeps every bite intact instead of falling apart like a flat sandwich would. Cheddar’s saltiness balances the moringa’s slightly earthy, green flavour, and the butter-fried outside gives you a contrast of crisp and gooey in one bite.
Ingredients
-
5–6 slices soft white bread
-
4 Tbsp The Misfits Pesto with Moringa (≈ 60 g)
-
1 cup cheddar cheese, grated (≈ 100 g)
-
4 Tbsp butter, melted (≈ 55 g)
Serves 2–3 as a snack.
Tags: Snack
Step-by-step method
-
Trim the crusts off each slice of bread.
-
Roll each slice slightly to flatten it, using a rolling pin (or a clean wine bottle).
-
Spread The Misfits Pesto generously onto one slice, then sprinkle with about 2 Tbsp of grated cheddar. Roll up tightly. Repeat with the remaining slices.
-
Heat a non-stick pan over medium-high heat and add a knob of butter or a drizzle of olive oil.
-
Working one at a time, dip each roll into the melted butter, then place it in the hot pan.
-
Cook for 2–3 minutes per side, until the cheese has melted inside and the outside is golden brown.
Swaps & variations
No cheddar on hand? Mozzarella melts stringier; a sharp block cheese holds its shape better for cleaner slices. Swap white bread for multigrain or sourdough for a heartier bite. Add a thin layer of The Misfits Red Onion Relish under the cheese for a tangier version. For a party platter, slice each roll into 1-inch pinwheels after frying.
Storage & make-ahead
Rolled (uncooked) rolls can be assembled up to a day ahead and kept covered in the fridge fry fresh, since pan-toasting is what makes this dish. Already-cooked rolls keep for a day in an airtight container but are best reheated in a pan rather than a microwave.
Nutrition note
This is a butter-and-cheese snack, not a health food. What it does give you is moringa, one of the ingredients in our pesto, alongside the usual carbs and dairy you’d expect from a toastie.
The Misfit behind this recipe
The Misfits Pesto with Moringa starts with rescued, organically grown greens that don’t meet the cosmetic cut for retail produce that would otherwise be composted or left in the field simply for how it looks. Moringa itself is a traditional Ayurvedic ingredient, worked into the pesto as a genuine second act for produce headed nowhere. Every jar is zero-waste by design, made without artificial preservatives.