Open Faced by Karen Kaplan

Open Faced: Crostini, Tartines, and Other Single-Slice Sandwiches by Karen Kaplan crosses international borders to bring fresh, creative flavors to your breakfast, brunch, lunch, or dinner. Discover butterbrote, montaditos, smørrebrød, and other open-faced sandwiches that capture the essence of Germany, Spain, Scandinavia, France, Italy, and other cuisines.

I’ve worked with Karen before testing recipes for other cookbooks and was  pleased she asked me to test for her own book. I made several recipes and all were quick and delicious. German potatoes and fried eggs  which we are sharing today was a favorite of mine and Andrew loved the Tuna fish salad. The recipes in Open Faced are perfect for entertaining too – try an assortment of tartines for your next get together. It would make a  lovely hostess or a welcome to the neighborhood gift delivered with an artisanal loaf of bread. 

Special thanks to Gibbs Smith, the publisher, for providing three copies of Open Faced in our contest below which is open to our members worldwide and for sharing the following recipe with us today. 

German potatoes and fried eggs (butterbrote)

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Makes 6

While pan-fried potatoes German style-that means with bacon and onions-are most often an accompaniment to meat, such as schnitzel, I thought they would taste great on bread topped with a fried egg. If you like a lot of potatoes, use large Yukon golds; if you like a bit less, use medium-size ones. This is a perfect hearty breakfast sandwich of the open-faced variety. And if you like breakfast for dinner, you will love this dish! If it’s drinking time when you serve this sandwich, try a German lager or British ale.

  • 8 bacon strips, diced
  • 1 large onion, diced
  • 4 medium to large Yukon gold potatoes, finely diced
  • Salt and freshly ground black pepper
  • Sweet paprika
  • 2 tablespoons (1/4 stick) butter
  • 6 eggs
  • 6 slices dark rye or pumpernickel bread
  • 3 tablespoons minced fresh parsley, for garnish

Place bacon in a large, heavy skillet over medium heat and cook until thoroughly cooked to desired crispiness and fat has been rendered. Using a slotted utensil, transfer bacon from skillet to paper towels. Pour all but 2 tablespoons fat from skillet; reserve fat.

Add onion to the skillet with the fat and sauté until browned and a bit crisp, about 15 minutes. Using a slotted utensil, transfer onion to a bowl. Add some of reserved bacon fat to skillet if dry. Add potatoes to the skillet in a single layer and season with salt, pepper, and paprika. Cover and cook until potatoes are browned and tender, about 20 minutes, turning potatoes halfway through cooking process and adding additional fat to skillet if dry (if potatoes do not fit in a single layer, cook in batches or divide between 2 skillets). Stir bacon and onions into potatoes and cook for about 3 more minutes. Keep warm over low heat.

Meanwhile, melt butter in a large, heavy skillet over medium-low heat. Break in eggs and cook until whites are firm but yolks are still runny, or to your desired degree of doneness. Season with salt, pepper, and paprika.

Toast bread. Arrange toasts on a platter or individual plates. Mound potatoes atop bread. Place 1 fried egg atop each toast. Garnish with parsley and serve.

 

The publisher is offering three copies of this book to EYB Members worldwide. One of the entry options is to answer the following question in the comments section of this blog post.

Which recipe in the index would you try first?

Please note that you must be logged into the Rafflecopter contest before posting or your entry won’t be counted. For more information on this process, please see our step-by-step help post. Be sure to check your spam filters to receive our email notifications. Prizes can take up to 6 weeks to arrive from the publishers. If you are not already a Member, you can join at no cost. The contest ends at midnight on March 11th, 2018.

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96 Comments

  • allthatsleftarethecrumbs  on  February 3, 2018

    I would try the Welsh rarebit. It is something I have not made in many years and I am interested in their version.

  • Kristjudy  on  February 3, 2018

    potatoes-bayonne-ham-and-raclette

  • kellistaley  on  February 3, 2018

    Sun-dried tomato pesto crostini would be top of the list!

  • heyjude  on  February 3, 2018

    Dried Fig Jam, Pancetta, and Gorgonzoladolce Bruschette

  • lauriesk  on  February 3, 2018

    Sautéed sausage and four cheeses crostini

  • Linda41  on  February 3, 2018

    Chickpeas, spinach, and chorizo montaditos

  • eileen2015  on  February 3, 2018

    Tuna fish salad

  • t.t  on  February 3, 2018

    Provençal tuna and vegetable salad tartines

  • AnnaZed  on  February 3, 2018

    Boursin, roquette, and radish tartines (page 14)

  • hedder14  on  February 4, 2018

    Ratatouille tartines sounds like a recipe o would enjoy

  • vickster  on  February 4, 2018

    Dried Fig Jam, Pancetta and Gorgonzala dolce bruschette

  • Joyceeong  on  February 4, 2018

    Sun-dried Tomato Pesto Crostini

  • lapsapchung  on  February 4, 2018

    Potatoes, Bayonne ham, and raclette cheese tartines

  • lisaevanoff  on  February 4, 2018

    Sautéed sausage and four cheeses crostini

  • Zosia  on  February 4, 2018

    sauteed Belgian endive, blue cheese, walnuts, and honey tartines

  • janv  on  February 4, 2018

    Brown soda bread

  • ktwalla  on  February 4, 2018

    Prosciutto, Pecorino Romano Roasted Asparagus and Gremolata Bruschette

  • wester  on  February 4, 2018

    I happen to have some marrow bones in the freezer, so probably Roasted bone marrow with pickled red onions and watercress tartines.

  • bettinab  on  February 4, 2018

    Peporanata with ricotta salata

  • Karla123  on  February 4, 2018

    This year's garden vegetables would make delicious Ratatouille tartines.

  • ladybrooke  on  February 4, 2018

    Sautéed mushrooms and Taleggio cheese crostini

  • EmilyR  on  February 4, 2018

    Herbed ricotta and sautéed zucchini with lemon crostini

  • SheilaS  on  February 5, 2018

    I'd love to try the Dried fig jam, pancetta, and Gorgonzola dolce bruschetta

  • antpantsii  on  February 5, 2018

    Olivada Crostini

  • sarahawker  on  February 5, 2018

    Chickpeas, spinach, and chorizo montaditos

  • lebarron2001  on  February 5, 2018

    Potato and shrimp open-faced sandwiches

  • lpatterson412  on  February 5, 2018

    Traditional Molletes with Pico De Gallo!!!

  • matag  on  February 5, 2018

    Dried fig jam, pancetta, and Gorgonzola dolce bruschette

  • maria411  on  February 5, 2018

    brown soda bread

  • Dannausc  on  February 5, 2018

    Olivada crostini

  • LaurenE  on  February 5, 2018

    Dried Fig Jam, Pancetta, and Gorgonzoladolce Bruschette

  • ptkcollins  on  February 6, 2018

    Chickpeas, spinach, and chorizo montaditos

  • Carolyn99  on  February 6, 2018

    Caponata crostini

  • contest718  on  February 6, 2018

    Sautéed mushrooms and Taleggio cheese crostini

  • jmay42066  on  February 7, 2018

    Crab and corn salad butterbrodi

  • Steben  on  February 8, 2018

    Creamy leeks with cremini and chanterelle mushrooms tartines

  • kmn4  on  February 8, 2018

    Lentil and sausage salad tartines

  • Siegal  on  February 8, 2018

    I want to make bruschetta

  • jifar  on  February 9, 2018

    Dried fig jam, pancetta, and Gorgonzola dolce bruschette

  • Cati  on  February 9, 2018

    Tuna fish salad

  • sgump  on  February 9, 2018

    The dried fig jam, pancetta, and Gorgonzola dolce bruschette sound lovely–and it's truly coincidental that so many other folks have singled out that recipe, since I looked at the index before looking at the previous comments! (Must be a good one!)

  • camerashy131  on  February 10, 2018

    Roast chicken, asparagus, and peas in tarragon cream open-faced sandwiches

  • Shelley.b  on  February 10, 2018

    Tuna fish salad

  • soffner  on  February 10, 2018

    Potatoes, Bayonne ham, and raclette cheese tartines

  • stitchan  on  February 11, 2018

    Russian salad butterbrodi

  • choppergirl  on  February 11, 2018

    Peperonata and ricotta salata bruschette

  • Livia  on  February 11, 2018

    It has got to be the Cider and honey-scented onion marmalade, Cabrales cheese, and hazelnuts montaditos

  • rahiscock  on  February 15, 2018

    Tomato & basil brushette

  • Scotsman61  on  February 16, 2018

    Welsh rarebit

  • JenJoLa  on  February 17, 2018

    Sautéed Belgian endive, blue cheese, walnuts, and honey tartines

  • rchesser  on  February 17, 2018

    Welsh rarebit!

  • lindaeatsherbooks  on  February 18, 2018

    I would like to try making the Provençal tuna and vegetable salad tartines.

  • FireRunner2379  on  February 18, 2018

    I like the sounds of the Prosciutto, pecorino Romano-roasted asparagus, and gremolata bruschette!

  • lgroom  on  February 19, 2018

    Caponata crostini

  • jigglesfrog  on  February 20, 2018

    Basil and arugula pesto crostini

  • infotrop  on  February 20, 2018

    Fried eggplant with honey and mint montaditos. What I learned: montaditos are tapa-sized rolls of bread similar to a baguette but wider and with a twist.

  • RickPearson54  on  February 25, 2018

    Welsh rarebit

  • jd5761  on  February 25, 2018

    Peporanata with ricotta salata

  • juliebakesalot  on  February 25, 2018

    I think I'd like to try the tomato, garlic, and basil bruschette first

  • recipelover50  on  February 25, 2018

    tied between the German potatoes and fried eggs or Chopped Liver, sauteed onions, and hard boiled eggs on dark rye.

  • chasteph  on  February 25, 2018

    Curried egg salad toasts with mango chutney, raisins, and cashews for me!

  • tigger  on  February 25, 2018

    I would try the smoked chicken schnitzel.

  • TheCookbookCook  on  February 25, 2018

    Olivada crostini

  • sarahshan  on  February 25, 2018

    Basil and arugula pesto crostini !

  • PennyG  on  February 25, 2018

    Dried fig jam, pancetta, and Gorgonzola dolce bruschette!

  • DemelzaPoldark  on  February 25, 2018

    Sautéed mushrooms and Taleggio cheese crostini

  • kennethjohngilmour  on  February 25, 2018

    Roast pork with braised red cabbage open-faced sandwiches

  • PeavineBlues  on  February 25, 2018

    Sausage and cheese open-face sandwich

  • drjeff  on  February 25, 2018

    fava-bean-puree-with-sauteed escarole brushchette

  • Papyrus  on  February 25, 2018

    potatoes-bayonne-ham-and-raclette

  • Juli  on  February 25, 2018

    The dried fig jam, pancetta and Gorgonzola dolce bruschetta sounds amazing, I would try this first :). Thanks for offering this book worldwide!

  • ZeljkoStefan  on  February 26, 2018

    Prosciutto, pecorino Romano-roasted asparagus, and gremolata bruschette sounds great-that combination of ingredients cannot be disappointing at all!!!

  • barvertagata  on  February 26, 2018

    Roasted bone marrow with pickled red onions and watercress tartines!!!!

  • tararr  on  February 26, 2018

    Dried Fig Jam, Pancetta and Gorgonzala dolce bruschette

  • HomespunHouse  on  February 26, 2018

    Butterbrote

  • HermionieG  on  February 27, 2018

    Chicken schnitzel butterbrote

  • Lucicat  on  February 27, 2018

    Creamy leeks with cremini and chanterelle mushrooms tartines

  • lils74  on  February 27, 2018

    Sauteed mushrooms and Taleggio cheese crostini… or anything here, really – they all look amazing!

  • obbigttam  on  February 28, 2018

    Arugula, bresaola, Parmesan, and oven-roasted tomatoes bruschetta – yum

  • Arinelle  on  February 28, 2018

    I'd like to stretch way out of my comfort zone with the roasted bone marrow with pickled red onions and watercress tartines.

  • GregH  on  February 28, 2018

    Prosciutto, pecorino Romano-roasted asparagus, and gremolata bruschette

  • Julia  on  February 28, 2018

    Catalan tomato toasts. There are really too many to pick just one.

  • madelainelc  on  March 1, 2018

    Tomato, garlic and basil bruchetta. A classic!

  • dianeg21  on  March 3, 2018

    So many I'd love to try but haven't had Welsh rarebit in years so I'd start with that.

  • RSW  on  March 4, 2018

    Boursin, roquette, and radish tartines

  • Kimberly78  on  March 5, 2018

    Sautéed sausage and four cheeses crostini

  • shellee  on  March 5, 2018

    Ratatouille Tartines

  • PollySBA  on  March 7, 2018

    Provencal tuna and vegetable salad tartines . . . couldn't get the lower swifer on the c though

  • Jenamarie  on  March 8, 2018

    Gravlax with honey mustard dill sauce open-faced sandwiches

  • iza27  on  March 9, 2018

    Sautéed radicchio, speck, and mozzarella bruschette

  • Coffeebean  on  March 9, 2018

    Butterbrote

  • orchidlady01  on  March 10, 2018

    Arugula, bresaola, Parmesan, and oven-roasted tomatoes bruschetta

  • trudys_person  on  March 11, 2018

    The Hot Brown – open-faced turkey sandwich! Sounds like delicious update on the classic!

  • laurel2000  on  March 11, 2018

    The first recipe I would try is Tuna and Vegetable Salad Tartines followed by The Hot Brown! I love open-faced sandwiches!

  • sugo  on  March 24, 2018

    Creamy leeks with cremini and chanterelle mushrooms tartines

  • BMeyer  on  April 15, 2018

    Dried Fig Jam, Pancetta, and Gorgonzoladolce Bruschette

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