I’ve been witness to a lot of food stress this week.
I get it, the holiday season is hard. There are just so many delicious and readily available foods everywhere.
And sometimes foods are packaged in beautiful shiny paper with ribbons and sparkles so you’re fooled into thinking it has to be something delicious.
But then it isn’t. Not even close.
Enter, food stress: the overwhelming feeling of regret at having consumed an item that just wasn’t worth it.
Here, I hope to assist you in avoiding such a tragedy.
Here, I give you crostini. Or ‘little toasts’.
These work as simple appetizers that are easily customizable to your family’s or guests’ preferences. They can also be as naughty or as nice (in the health department) as you want.
These two options are on the healthy end. They’re easy to make but also little more interesting than your basic bruschetta or simple cheese crostini.
Also, they’re super gorgeous. Even more gorgeous than any of that tricky bedazzled packaging.
And of course, they are totally worth it.
Erin
Simple Crostini
Serves | 12-20 |
Prep time | 5 minutes |
Cook time | 20 minutes |
Total time | 25 minutes |
Ingredients
- 1 baguette (sliced in to ½" diagonal pieces)
- 1/3 cup olive oil
- salt and pepper
Directions
1. | Preheat oven to 350F. Brush both sides of all slices with olive oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper. |
2. | Bake until golden brown, about 15-20 minutes, flipping the crostini halfway through. |
3. | Let cool and add your toppings of choice. |
Sweet Pea and Mint Crostini
Serves | 12 |
Prep time | 10 minutes |
Website | Adapted from Giada De Laurentiis |
Ingredients
- 1.5 cups frozen sweet peas (thawed)
- 1/4 cup fresh mint leaves (about 8 large leaves)
- 1 clove garlic (chopped)
- 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
- 1/2 cup finely grated parmesan cheese (with extra for garnish)
- 1/2 teaspoon fine sea or kosher salt
- 1/8 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
Note
This recipe was originally used as a topping for seared salmon along with a bright lemony broth. I've always loved it and thought it would make an excellent crostini topper. Try topping the crostini with a piece of smoked salmon for a fancy pants add-on.
Directions
1. | Using an immersion or counter top blender, blend all ingredients until well combined but not fully pureed, leaving some texture. |
2. | Top each crostini with approximately 2 Tbsp of pea puree. garnish with extra parmesan cheese. |
Roasted Grape and Ricotta Crostini
Serves | 12 crostini |
Prep time | 5 minutes |
Cook time | 25 minutes |
Total time | 30 minutes |
Website | Adapted from Sweet Sugar Bean blog |
Ingredients
- 60 seedless red grapes
- 1/2 tablespoon olive or canola oil
- 5 or 6 sprigs of fresh thyme (plus extra for garnish)
- 1/2 teaspoon fine sea or kosher salt (divided)
- 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper (divided)
- 3/4 cups ricotta cheese
- 1/2 teaspoon lemon zest
Directions
1. | Preheat oven to 400F. Combine grapes, oil, thyme sprigs, ¼ tsp salt and ⅛ tsp pepper in a bowl. Transfer to lined baking sheet, bake for 18-20 minutes until grapes start to brown and wrinkle. |
2. | In a separate bowl combine ricotta, lemon zest and remaining salt and pepper. Spread 1 Tbsp of ricotta on each crostini, top with 5 grapes each. Sprinkle with fresh thyme leaves. |
[…] it was with a tipple of trepidation that I recently tried How to Eat’s Roasted Grape and Ricotta Crostini recipe. I love sweet and savoury combinations, but I almost swapped the ricotta for goat cheese at the […]