Jam, peanut butter, or plain butter may be the go-to spreads for toast, but not everyone has a sweet tooth in the morning. One Reddit user admitted they were stuck in a rut with their limited savory options and asked the community for better ideas. The post exploded with more than a thousand comments, filled with creative, flavorful suggestions that go far beyond the usual cheese or avocado.
The story
The poster explained on Reddit that "I'm tired of putting jam on toast, because I'd prefer something savory but I don't want to use hummus and I don't love olives, so tapenade is out." Then posed the question: "Do you have a savory spread for toast that you like?"
People had a lot of opinions on toast. The thread quickly filled with interesting spread ideas that many of us may not even have thought of!
The reactions
If you’re a savory toast lover, you’re not alone. There are hundreds of spread options that are not only easy to make, but they taste delicious on toast, as one user shared, “Also a savory toast lover. My go-to is: Sardine butter. Any sort of liver pate. Cream cheese sprinkled with a spice mix and/or some thinly sliced tomatoes. Butter and (cold) smoked salmon.”
Many people may not put sardines on toast, but smoked salmon and butter sound like another delicious combination to try on toast.
Another person shared their comfort food, which is not simple but sounds scrumptious. They added, “Caramelized onions (meaning, cooked into almost a paste, along with chicken stock and a sprinkle of coriander seeds).”
Caramelized onions are not a common spread to put on toast. But if you want to eat something unique, you should definitely try this! To caramelize onions, slice them thinly and cook them slowly in a wide pan with a bit of oil or butter over medium-low heat. Stir often for 30–40 minutes until they turn golden brown and soft, releasing their natural sweetness without burning.
One user mentioned pepper jelly, which is sweet but gives a light spice kick. “Pepper jelly, while still sweet, is fabulous. Not hard to make at home. Use more bell pepper for less heat and more savory, more jalapeno or other peppers for more heat.”
Pepper jelly on toast feels like something that should be more popular than it is. The fact that someone actually explained how to adjust the heat level makes it even better.
Someone else suggested getting creative with vegetables and cream cheese. “Cream cheese with finely diced vegetables and a few herbs in it.”
And if you like it, you can also make a big batch of herbed vegetable cream cheese, and your breakfast is set for an entire week.
Then there was a surprisingly simple suggestion that might actually taste good. "Straight tomato paste... it's amazing, especially on buttered toast."
Someone liked their toast fancy. They recommended, “Marinated goat cheese is amazing on toast. I use lemon zest, whatever fresh herb I’m in the mood for, and ground pepper.”
Goat cheese is already creamy and tangy, but when marinated with herbs, it gives a rich and delicious flavor.
Then came a suggestion inspired by international flavors: “I’m currently into Avjar, it’s a Turkish red pepper and aubergine spread/dip.”
International grocery stores have so many amazing spreads that most people never even know exist, such as Ajvar. It is smoky, slightly sweet, and savory. It’s a staple in parts of Eastern Europe and the Balkans.
My personal favorite is babaganoush. As one person commented, "I could commit a crime for babaganoush." Baba ganoush is a Middle Eastern spread made from roasted eggplant blended with tahini, lemon juice, garlic, and olive oil. It’s creamy, smoky, and perfect for dipping pita or spreading on toast.
Something super simple is "Maybe I’m a total savage, but mayo with a light dusting of garlic salt is pretty great on toast". Definitely worth a try, low effort, and sounds delicious.
Finally, one person suggested whipped ricotta, and honestly, it’s hard to argue with that. "Whipped ricotta!!!! Add some honey, olive oil, and red pepper flakes! Whatever you want! One of my favorites on toast!" Making whipped ricotta is super simple: just add fresh ricotta to a food processor or use a hand mixer and blend until it’s smooth, airy, and creamy.
Whipped ricotta with honey and red pepper flakes tastes sweet, creamy, and spicy all at once.
The takeaway
The thread proved that savory toast doesn’t have to stop at butter or cheese. From sardine butter to caramelized onions, goat cheese, ajvar, and whipped ricotta, there are plenty of ways to make a slice of bread taste delicious.
Next time you toast a slice of bread, grab what you have, mix in some herbs or spices, and you’ll have a tasty, savory toast ready. And if there’s a jar of something forgotten in the fridge, toast might be the easiest way to use it, finally.
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