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Home » Breakfast

Strawberry Tartine with Balsamic Reduction

Published: Jun 19, 2021 · Modified: Jul 21, 2021 by Ash, The Grocery Addict · This post may contain affiliate links ·

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This super simple, 5-ingredient dish is a brunch favorite I learned working for the great Margot McCormack. A toasted piece of crusty bread is slathered with lightly sweetened mascarpone cheese, fresh macerated strawberries and a drizzle of balsamic reduction. Warning: this strawberry tartine is about to become your new food obsession.

overhead shot of strawberry tartine on a white plate with a drizzle of balsamic reduction and a royal blue cloth

While Nashville's favorite brunch spot - Marché Artisan Foods - is no longer with us, there's no reason the fan-favorite dishes can't live on. For the entire time I worked at Marché, this strawberry tartine was an eternal favorite that I looked forward to every spring. Luckily for all of us, this yummy dish is exceedingly easy to make at home.

Want someone to make the OG strawberry tartine for you? Come visit Margot Cafe and Bar for breakfast, lunch or brunch!

Table of Contents

  • What is a Tartine?
  • Why I Love This Recipe
  • How to Make a Marché Style Strawberry Tartine
    • 1 - Balsamic Reduction
    • 2 - Sweetened Mascarpone
    • 3 - Macerated Berries
    • 4 - Assembly
  • Optional Variations
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Need more warm weather recipes?

What is a Tartine?

You know how foreign languages make even the most banal things sound super sexy? Well tartine is one of those words. Basically French for "open faced sandwich," tartines can be sweet or savory, large or small. Often eaten as either a breakfast or lunch, these snacks run the gamut in terms of flavors.

At Marché, our tartines were mostly of the sweet, fruit laden variety. Peaches & ricotta for summer, pears & camembert for fall, roasted grapes & goat cheese for winter. This strawberry mascarpone tartine has always been my favorite, and it is so easy to recreate at home.

ingredients for strawberry tartine laid out on a table - bowl of strawberries, sliced multigrain bread on a cutting board, mascarpone cheese, honey bear and bottle of balsamic vinegar

Why I Love This Recipe

I'm someone who enjoys - nay, relishes - carbohydrates in the form of good bread. I'm also a big fan of all berries (especially perfectly ripe spring strawberries) and most cheeses. And my favorite condiment? Just about anything made with vinegar. This delightfully simple dish combines all of those things into a gee dang masterpiece.

Sliced strawberries are macerated in the lightest coating of sugar to coax out all the lovely juices. Mascarpone is tinged with a hint of sweet vanilla. Balsamic vinegar is reduced down to a treacly agrodolce syrup. And then all of those things are loaded onto a lightly toasted, thick crusted, big-bubbled, perfect piece of bread. It's transcendent.

If any of that sounds unattainable to you, I'm here to tell you a secret: making this strawberry tartine is super undemanding. The hardest part is finding a good enough loaf of bread! The rest is literally just slicing and stirring.

NOTE: If you're in Nashville, I highly recommend Dozen Bakery for all your bread needs. This recipe is also excellent if you'd rather save the money and make your own. Alternately, I am a huge fan of the Costco bakery - the bread featured in this photo is the multigrain loaf, which comes in a two pack for $6.99.

45 degree angle shot of a strawberry tartine next to a steak knife

How to Make a Marché Style Strawberry Tartine

This brunch staple is easier to achieve at home than you may have previously thought. Simply reduce some balsamic vinegar to syrupy goodness, slice some berries and toss them with sugar and whip some mascarpone with sweetener. It takes very little active time, but making the reduction does require a bit of patience.

1 - Balsamic Reduction

If you're feeling lazy, certain stores actually carry balsamic reductions already made. But if you have just a bit of time, a small pot and some balsamic vinegar on your hands, you're just a few easy steps away from this magical elixir.

The directions couldn't be simpler: pour balsamic vinegar into sauce pot. Put pot over low heat. Simmer until thick and syrupy. That's it.

NOTE: If you want a sweeter balsamic reduction, add honey, agave or maple syrup to taste.

2 - Sweetened Mascarpone

This is another easy piece. All you need is softened mascarpone and some honey (or the sweetener of your choice). Mix until well combined. Easy, right?

spoon drizzling honey onto bowl of mascarpone
overhead shot of honey atop a bed of mascarpone in a small mixing bowl
sweetened mascarpone after whipping

3 - Macerated Berries

Rinse your berries well. Stem and slice them. Drizzle them with a bit of honey and let them sit for 5-10 minutes. You're basically there.

spoon drizzling honey onto a bowl of sliced strawberries
hand stirring strawberries with honey to get juicy and macerated

4 - Assembly

Take a thick-ish slice of your yummy bread and toast it just enough to warm through. (If you're feeling extra indulgent, give it the fried bread/large format crouton treatment from my Beans & Greens on Toast.)

assembly step 1 - slathering sweetened mascarpone on a piece of toast

Slather on a generous swoosh of sweetened mascarpone. Pile the berries and their accumulated juices on as high as your heart desires.

assembly step 2 - macerated strawberries piled high on sweetened mascarpone

Drizzle with some balsamic vinegar. Dig in. Enjoy every last bite of that beautiful strawberry tartine. You deserve it.

Optional Variations

While this strawberry tartine à la Marché is pretty perfect just the way it is, there are plenty of opportunities to make it all your own. Here are some ideas to get you started:

  • Herbs - mint, basil, or tarragon would all pair very nicely.
  • Different vinegars - white balsamic or fruit vinegars can be used to macerate the berries or reduced down to a drizzle.
  • Sweetened reduction - if you want the balsamic drizzle to be sweeter, feel free to add some honey, maple, agave or brown sugar.
  • Different berries or fruits
  • Different spreadable cheese - cream cheese, ricotta, or blended cottage cheese can all step in for the mascarpone.
assembly step 3 - balsamic reduction drizzled atop strawberry toast

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a good substitute for mascarpone cheese?

My personal favorite is either a tub of whipped cream cheese, or a mixture of softened block cream cheese and heavy cream. Mascarpone is something that I can only find at Trader Joe's, Whole Foods and some Publix stores, so I often turn to this easy (and cheap) hack:

Mix together 8 oz of softened cream cheese with ¼ cup of heavy whipping cream. Mix until well combined. Your "mascarpone" is ready to use!

What can I use instead of strawberries?

Y'all, the best thing about tartines is how simple they are. You are free to use any fruit that you'd like! While strawberries are one of my all-time favorite fruits around, you can easily swap in any other berries that you've macerated. I'll also be sharing a recipe for the equally famous Marché style peach tartine soon!

What should I do with my leftover balsamic reduction?

Make seconds! All joking aside, though, this stuff is delicious. Try it on some fresh sliced tomatoes with mozzarella and basil for a variation on caprese salad. Put it on your cheese plate. Drizzle it over vanilla ice cream (not joking). Use it to finish your grilled chicken or fish, or all over your favorite roasted vegetables.

Once you start experimenting with it, you'll see just how versatile a balsamic reduction is. It'll also last a long time in the fridge, so it's definitely worth making.

tablescape shot of strawberry tartine with a royal blue cloth, macerated berries in a bowl, a honey bear and a bowl of whipped mascarpone

Need more warm weather recipes?

  • Easy Strawberry Shortcakes With Biscuit Mix
  • Easily Adaptable Fruit Crumble For a Crowd
  • Zucchini Bread Oatmeal
  • Peach Crumble Pie
  • Peach Tartine with Ricotta & Honey
  • Easy & Adaptable Apple Cherry Cobbler

If you tried this "recipe" for a Marché Style Strawberry Tartine with Mascarpone and Balsamic Reduction, please be sure to rate and review it in the recipe card below!

For more fast and affordable recipe ideas, sign up for my email newsletter. You’ll get first access to all of my new content delivered straight to your inbox! Don’t worry, I promise to never sell your information.

overhead shot of marche style strawberry tartine on a white plate with a steak knife and blue napkin

Marché Style Strawberry Tartine with Balsamic Reduction

This super simple, 5-ingredient dish is a brunch favorite I learned working for the great Margot McCormack. Warning: this strawberry tartine is about to become your new food obsession.
4.67 from 3 votes
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 5 minutes mins
Total Time 5 minutes mins
Course Appetizer, Breakfast, Brunch, Snack
Cuisine American, French
Servings 1
Calories 529 kcal

Equipment

  • Chef's Knife
  • Cutting Board
  • Mixing Bowls

Ingredients
  

  • 1 Slice Crusty Bread lightly toasted
  • ¼ C Mascarpone
  • 2-4 teaspoon Honey divided, to taste. Or sub maple syrup, agave nectar, powdered sugar, or sweetener of choice.
  • 8-10 Strawberries sliced
  • 2 teaspoon Balsamic Reduction

Instructions
 

  • Pour balsamic vinegar into sauce pot. Put pot over low heat. Simmer until thick and syrupy. If you're feeling lazy, certain stores actually carry balsamic reductions already made.
    NOTE: If you want a sweeter balsamic reduction, add honey, agave or maple syrup to taste.
  • Mix 1-2 teaspoon honey and mascarpone until well combined.
  • Rinse your berries well. Stem and slice them. Drizzle them with a bit of honey (1-2 tsp), stir and let them sit for 5-10 minutes.
  • Take a thick-ish slice of your yummy bread and toast it just enough to warm through. Slather on a generous swoosh of sweetened mascarpone. Pile the berries and their accumulated juices on as high as your heart desires. Drizzle with some balsamic vinegar. Dig in!

Notes

  • Nutrition values are very approximate and will vary based on the size of the slice of bread you choose. For reference, this is based on a 185 calorie slice. 
  • No mascarpone? No problem! Mix together 8 oz of softened cream cheese with ¼ cup of heavy whipping cream. Mix until well combined. Your "mascarpone" is ready to use!

Nutrition

Calories: 529kcalCarbohydrates: 60gProtein: 12gFat: 27gSaturated Fat: 16gCholesterol: 56mgSodium: 365mgPotassium: 258mgFiber: 3gSugar: 21gVitamin A: 799IUVitamin C: 57mgCalcium: 129mgIron: 3mg
Keyword Cheap, Easy, Fast, Fruit, Vegetarian
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

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Hey y'all! My name is Ashley, and I'm the Grocery Addict. I'm here to share my best time saving tips, money saving tricks and store bought grocery hacks to make being the CFO (Chief Food Officer) of your family a little easier. All of my recipes are designed for real, busy people - like you! - who want to eat healthy, homemade food on a tight budget. I can't wait to see you in the kitchen!

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