Loaded croissants: A gourmet twist on a breakfast classic

Croissants are often seen as elegant French pastries, typically served for breakfast. However, this version transforms them into something more exciting than regular sandwiches. The crispy, grilled dough holds a variety of fillings, ensuring there's something to suit everyone's taste.

Loaded Croissants are a fantastic dinner or warm snack for friends' gatherings. These fillings also inspire a second breakfast—although they taste best when warm, they can still successfully replace common sandwiches even after cooling down.

There's a mix of sweet and savoury options, catering to both Nutella enthusiasts and fans of blue cheeses or Italian flavours. Croissants are an excellent base for culinary experiments, not just sweet ones. You can grill them or bake them in a sandwich maker. The key is to flatten them, making these appliances much more effective than an oven.

Ingredients:

Croissant with pesto

            
• 1 croissant,
• 1 tablespoon green pesto,
• 3-4 slices of turkey ham,
• ½ tomato,
• 55 grams (2 oz) mozzarella in brine,
• 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil,
• Salt and pepper to taste.

Croissant with brie cheese

        
• 1 croissant,
• 100 grams (3.5 oz) Brie cheese,
• ½ pear,
• 1 tablespoon honey,
• 30 grams (1 oz) crushed pistachios.

Sweet croissant

        
• 1 croissant,
• 1 tablespoon peanut butter,
• 40 grams (1.4 oz) blueberries,
• 1 tablespoon Nutella,
• 10 grams (0.35 oz) slivered almonds.

Croissant with mascarpone and parma ham

          
• 1 croissant,
• 1 tablespoon mascarpone,
• 15 grams (0.5 oz) arugula,
• 2 slices Parma ham,
• 1 tablespoon dried tomatoes in oil,
• 1 teaspoon balsamic glaze.

Preparation method:

Step 1. Cut the croissant into two parts. Spread the pesto on the bottom half. Add slices of turkey ham, tomato, and mozzarella. Season with salt and pepper and drizzle with high-quality olive oil. Cover with the other half of the croissant and grill for a few minutes.

Step 2. Cut the croissant into two parts—place slices of Brie cheese, pear, and more Brie cheese on the bottom half. Sprinkle with chopped pistachios, cover with the other half of the croissant, and grill.

Step 3. Next, move on to the dessert part. Spread peanut butter on the bottom half, add washed blueberries, and drizzle everything with Nutella. To make the Nutella more fluid, place the jar in hot water. Sprinkle with almonds, cover, and grill.

Step 4. For the final version, spread mascarpone on the bottom half of the croissant and add washed arugula. Add chopped dried tomatoes and Parma ham, then drizzle everything with balsamic glaze. Grill it, and it's ready. Enjoy!