Sourdough toast pairings worth getting up early for

The case for toast as a complete meal is mostly about the bread. A slice of two-day-old sourdough, properly toasted (well-coloured but not burnt), takes pairings the way no other vehicle does.

1. Smashed avocado, lemon zest, sea salt. The default for a reason.

2. Goat’s curd, honey, cracked black pepper. The pepper does most of the work.

3. Cold roast beef, horseradish cream, watercress. Use a thin slice, not a thick one — the toast should still take the lead.

4. Mature cheddar, sliced apple, a tiny shaving of red onion. A grown-up version of cheese on toast that doesn’t require turning the grill on.

5. Smoked mackerel, crème fraîche, dill, lemon. Mackerel doesn’t need cooking; it needs cold and acid.

6. Anchovies, soft-boiled egg, parsley. The most divisive option and the most rewarding when it works.