Gourmet Cheese on Toast

• green beans↗150 g
• salt and pepper
• soft creamy cheese (goat cheese is good)↗100 g
• black olives, pitted and sliced↗6
• mint leaves or basil leaves, shredded↗1⁄4 cup
• lemon↗1⁄2
• small red onion, finely chopped↗1

  finely chopped

• balsamic vinegar↗1 tablespoon
• cherry tomatoes↗8
• olive oil↗3 tablespoons
• slices thick bread2
• clove garlic, minced↗1
• slices good quality ham↗2

Step-by-step instructions

1. 1

   Trim the beans, cut them in half and then boil in a small pan of water for two minutes.

2. 2

   Drain and cool with some cold water.

3. 3

   Place the cheese in a bowl with the olives, mint or basil, a squeeze of lemon juice, salt and pepper.

4. 4

   Mix together.

5. 5

   Mix the onion and balsamic vinegar together in a bowl.

6. 6

   Halve the cherry tomatoes and pile over top of the onion mixture.

7. 7

   Season with a bit of salt and pepper, add two tablespoons of the olive oil and garlic and mix together.

8. 8

   Toast the bread, then rub one side with the remaining olive oil and spread thickly with the cheese mixture.

9. 9

   Cover with each piece of bread with a ham slice, place the toast on plates and pile with the onion mixture.

10. 10

    Garnish with the beans and serve.