Open-Faced Cheese And Tomato Sandwich

July 5, 2022 *Updated* Jul 10, 2024 / By: Gloria Duggan | Homemade & Yummy 76 Comments

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The best Open-Faced Cheese and Tomato Sandwich ever. The combination of tomato and cheese is always a hit however you layer it.

These Scandinavian-style sandwiches known as Smørrebrød are easy to prepare. Totally impressive in appearance and certainly delivers on taste. Less bread and more toppings are a win for me.

Open-Faced Cheese And Tomato Sandwich on a white plate.

I am sure you have enjoyed lots of open sandwiches like:

Smashed Avocado Toast – perfect for any meal of the day.
Smoked Salmon and Cream Cheese Bagel – this classic is so easy to make at home.
Fresh Tomato Bruschetta – perfect with pasta or as a starter.
Strawberry Bruschetta – great for an appetizer or dessert.
Cucumber Sandwich Bagel – you can serve this as an open sandwich.

Let’s not forget all the tuna melts and hot open-faced sandwiches with gravy too.

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The best part about great sandwiches is that to make it a full meal add a tasty side. This simple pea salad is perfect. Crisp, refreshing, and bursting with flavour.

RECIPE and INSTRUCTIONS for this open sandwich can be found at the bottom of this post.

Ingredients Needed For This Cold Cheese And Tomato Sandwich

Super easy to find ingredients. Keep reading for some awesome substitutions and recipe tips.

Ingredients to make tomato and cheese sandwiches.

Thin buns
Fresh tomatoes
Goat cheese
Antipasto spread
Balsamic glaze
Fresh basil

One thing I will suggest is that you use the BEST tomatoes possible. Heirloom tomatoes are fantastic.

Slices of heirloom tomatoes to put on sandwiches.

Making Open-Faced Sandwiches With Tomatoes And Cheese

All you need to do is slice and layer. This is the perfect sandwich for brunch, lunch or dinner.

Collage showing steps in making an open sandwich.

Divide your bun in half. One half for each serving.
Spread the cheese on the bun.
Layer on the sliced tomatoes.
Top with the antipasto spread.
Drizzle with balsamic.
Garnish with basil leaves.

This tomato and cheese recipe is so simple to make and so delicious to eat. Open-face sandwiches are great for feeding a crowd and for sandwich buffets since they are presentation perfect.

Suggestions/Recipe Tips

Buns – I love thin, dense buns. This sandwich is all about the toppings. You can also use dense slices of bread. Think rye, multigrain, or sourdough, they would all be great options.

Cheese – Goat cheese is perfect. It spreads nicely and tastes delicious. I used a flavoured one, but plain would work. If you are not a goat cheese fan, honestly any cheese will work. You might also like to try this Goat Cheese Log. Cream cheese, ricotta, or any kind of sliced cheese you like. There is no right or wrong kind of cheese.

Tomatoes – The freshest, best-tasting tomatoes work best. If you cannot find heirloom, beefsteak or Kumato are great options. Of course, if you grow your own tomatoes in the garden, those would be perfect.

2 open tomato sandwiches on a white plate.

Antipasto Spread – This comes in mild and hot. Take your pick. You can also leave this out if you prefer, but it does add a nice layer of flavour. All you need is a little, especially if you are using the hot one. As an alternative try a bit of marinated artichokes or eggplant.

Balsamic Glaze – Always a great choice. You could also just use a few drops of regular balsamic. It will be much thinner and the flavour will not be as intense or as sweet.

Garnish – Fresh herbs of any kind will work. I choose basil, but chives, dill, thyme or oregano are great alternatives.

Serving – I like to serve these as soon as they are made. You can store them in the fridge until ready to eat. Just be aware the longer they are stored, the chances of the bread getting soggy increases.

Cheese and Tomato on an open sandwich bun.

FAQ (Questions And Answers)

What makes an open-faced sandwich?

Sandwiches are made with a single slice of bread, half a bun, or half a bagel.

What is the difference between regular tomatoes and heirloom tomatoes?

Heirloom tomatoes are grown for their flavour. They are not mass-produced, which makes them more expensive. They are more fragile than regular tomatoes and less disease-resistant.

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Be sure to check out the other delicious sandwiches, wraps and burgers on this site.

For more sandwich ideas, here are a few to try: