Melba toast with pâté or rillettes
Melba toast with pâté or rillettes is a classic French appetizer featuring thin, crisp, dry toast topped with a rich, savory spread. The dish typically consists of plain or lightly buttered Melba toast paired with either a smooth pâté (often liver-based) or rillettes (a shredded, slow-cooked meat spread, commonly pork or duck). It originates from France and is a staple in bistro and charcuterie culture.
🍽️ Nutrition at a glance
This dish is high in fat and protein, with a moderate amount of carbohydrates from the toast. It provides key nutrients like iron, B vitamins (especially B12), and selenium, with a rough calorie ballpark of 200-250 kcal per typical serving.
Nutrition breakdown
| Calories | 230 kcal |
| Protein | 10 g |
| Carbs | 15 g |
| Fat | 15 g |
| Fiber | 1 g |
| Sugar | 1 g |
| Sodium | 380 mg |
| Iron | 2.5 mg |
| Vitamin B12 | 1.8 mcg |
| Selenium | 12 mcg |
| Zinc | 1.5 mg |
| Phosphorus | 150 mg |
| Niacin (B3) | 3 mg |
| Vitamin A | 120 mcg RAE |
| Copper | 0.2 mg |
Per 2 slices of Melba toast (30 g) with 2 tablespoons of pâté (60 g) · estimated, varies by recipe
💡 What's interesting
Melba toast was named after Australian soprano Nellie Melba in the late 19th century, making it a dish with a unique celebrity-inspired origin. Nutritionally, it combines the quick energy of refined carbs with the sustained satiety from protein and fat, often enjoyed as a pre-dinner bite to stimulate appetite.
