With the holiday season approaching I always to learn a new appetizer to make.
Here are my top 3 go to crostini recipes that are always a hit in my house.
First things first, what is a Crostini? - A Crostini is an Italian appetizer which consist of small pieces of grilled or toasted bread.
The Crostini is the base of all the recipes, feel free to add your own combination of toppings.
BAKED CROSTINI
INGREDIENTS
A Baguette
A sprinkle of Kosher Salt
A Drizzle of Extra Virgin Olive Oil
INSTRUCTIONS
Preheat your oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit.
Cut your bread diagonally, you want the slices to be be about 1/4" thick.
Use either a pastry brush or a pour spout to lightly coat your bread.
Sprinkle the coated pieces of break with a salt. - do not over salt.
We will bake for 5 - 7 minutes on each side.
I typically like to put these breads directly on the rack in my oven or on a cooking rack while they are baking - this always both sides of the bread to cook at the same time. If you want to use a baking sheet, be sure to flip your bread to thoroughly cook on both sides.
Now that you have your base its time for the fun part!
1. Baked Goat Cheese & Roasted Garlic
INGREDIENTS - How to make Roasted Garlic
1 head of garlic
Extra Virgin Olive Oil
Salt
Black Pepper
INSTRUCTIONS
Start by peeling at the extra skin off of the garlic until you get down to the bald. Be sure to keep the garlic in tacked together.
Cut about 1/4 way down the garlic so all the tops are exposed.
Generously drizzle with extra virgin olive oil
Pinch of salt and pepper
Wrap the garlic in aluminium foil. Make sure no oil can slip escape.
Place on a baking sheet and bake for at least 45 minutes. You can check your garlic at this point to see if the color and consistency has changed. The garlic so turn from white to a tinted brown color, this is the caramelizing.
Once your garlic is done, set aside to let cool.
You should be about to squeeze the garlic out of the head. If garlic is still hard, place back in oven.
BAKED GOAT CHEESE
INGREDIENTS
4 oz goat cheese
INSTRUCTIONS
In the same oven as roasted garlic:
Place 4 oz goat cheese in an oven safe dish.
Bake for about 10 minutes and remove from oven.
You just want this cheese to be nice and warm for the crostini.
When your guest arrive, spread the warm goat cheese on your baked crostini and top with roasted garlic.
Goat Cheese alternative: Gorgonzola.
Dish elevation: add caramelized onions.
Fun Fact! My friend Trisha actually introduced me to goat cheese and I never turned back!
2. Sun-Dried Tomato & Ricotta
INGREDIENTS
1 cup of Sun-dried tomatoes in oil
1 cup fresh basil
4 cloves of garlic
salt and black pepper to taste
8 oz of ricotta cheese
INSTRUCTIONS
Place all ingredients, except cheese, into a food processor and plus until well combined.
Spread your ricotta cheese over your crostini and top with the sun-dried tomato spread and your done!
3. Cream Cheese & Blackberry Jam
This one is by far the
easiest of them all.
INGREDIENTS
8 oz whipped cream cheese
Jar of your preferred jam (blackberry for this recipe)
INSTRUCTIONS
Spread your whipped cream cheese spread on your crostini
Add a dollop of your blackberry jam.
Dish Elevations:
Instead of cream cheese use goat cheese.
Take your blackberry jam and place over the stove with a handful of fresh black berries. Muddle together until heated throughout. Take off eat and let cook down before serving.
I hope you will enjoy these recipes as much as I do! Leave me comments in the section below and tell me how they came out!
Serve on your favorite board before dinner and pair with wine!