Toast Hawaii

/təʊst həwaɪiː/

/toʊst həwaɪiː/

[noun]

Toast Hawaii

[NOUN]

a dish made of toasted bread, ham, cheese, and pineapple, typically served hot as a sweet and savory combination

What is "toast Hawaii"?

Toast Hawaii is a popular German snack that consists of a slice of toast bread topped with ham, pineapple, and cheese. To make Toast Hawaii, a slice of bread is toasted until it is crispy and golden brown, and then topped with a slice of cooked ham and a slice of canned pineapple. A slice of cheese, such as Gouda or Swiss, is then placed on top of the pineapple, and the entire toast is grilled until the cheese is melted and bubbly. Toast Hawaii is often served as a light lunch or snack, and can be customized with additional ingredients, such as bacon or tomato. It is a savory and sweet combination that is enjoyed by many, and has become a popular dish in many countries beyond Germany.

Examples

1. Originating in the German-speaking area of Switzerland, Toast Hawaii is reminiscent of Hawaiian pizza except that it is an open-faced sandwich that layers ham, pineapple, and melted cheese with a cherry on top.

2. Beyond the fact that it is unequivocally Panopoulos’ Hawaiian Pizza that popularized the dish, Toast Hawaii is considered more of an open sandwich, comprising of a piece of toast topped with ham, cheese, pineapple, and a maraschino cherry on top, all grilled until the cheese melts.

3. It is claimed by some that famed German TV chef Clemens Wilmenrod is actually the inventor of the Hawaiian pizza as he introduced Toast Hawaii to the world on his show in 1955.

4. If you'd like to make Toast Hawaii and the cherry is scaring you off, there's a recipe that uses a spoonful of cranberry jelly instead.