Crostini Creations
A moment for the easiest, yummiest & more underrated appetizer
A completely customizable and budget friendly appetizer? Yes, please.
Crostini can look intimidating but they are easy to create for any palette and easy on the wallet, too. What I love most about this appetizer are the many different uses of ingredients so you aren’t just buying the cheese, herbs, etc. for just one recipe. Many of the ingredients you can use again or even as a dual ingredient for a different appetizer. Like adding to or garnishing a cheese plate.
Keep reading for my exact recipe as well as a pre written grocery list!
The key to a perfect crostini board is to have different flavor combinations
You will want a few that pack a punch and a few that are more “neutral” or more recognizable in flavor .Let’s start with the basics- toasting your bread. I prefer the stovetop method to have more control of the baguette.
PREP
Take your french baguette and cut it into 1 inch 1 1/2 inch slices
Drizzle about a tablespoon of olive oil into a pan
Place bread slices evenly throughout the pan. Don’t overcrowd, you will have to do it in batches
After about two minutes (or a light golden brown) flip bread
Drizzle olive oil on other side
Repeat cooking process (about two minutes or until a light golden brown)
Transfer crostini to plate and repeat process until all bread is cooked
ASSEMBLE
Let’s start with a fan favorite, bruschetta. Classic bruschetta is essentially garlic, salt, balsamic reduction, tomatoes and fresh basil. You can get fancy with it and add cheese or more veggies but I like to keep it simple. Mainly because my other crostini’s have cheese and different flavor combinations, that I want to keep one simple.
Chop Roma tomatoes into bite size pieces and salt (Maldon salt is superior and you can’t convince me otherwise) add to a bowl
Chop fresh basil and 1-2 cloves of garlic into thin, fine slices and add to the bowl
Combine ingredients and add a few dashes of pepper
Scoop out mixture and assemble on crostini
Drizzle balsamic glaze over top
*measurements for tomato, basil and garlic really depend on how many crostini you are making. For my board, I used one large tomato, 2 cloves of garlic and about 5 basil leaves.
For the second crostini, I created a zingy and light base. Goat cheese and lemon go hand and hand. Add a couple more ingredients and you’ve got an innovative & interesting appetizer.
Spread the goat cheese on the baguette
You’ll want about a half of a lemon to zest. Once the cheese is on each baguette, zest the lemon over each crostini evenly
Take a handful of pecans (I like the candied ones from Trader Joes) and chop finely enough to evenly distribute on each crostini
Repeat chopping process with a spring of thyme. Add an extra sprig or two on your board for garnish if you’re feeling fancy
The last crostini only has three ingredients but tastes fresh and classy. Spread ricotta over each crostini, add a handful of finely chopped basil and drizzle honey over each. Done!
*tip if you have any leftover baguette (and room on your board) I like to add a jam of some kind or fig butter to add an extra option
This app is great to bring to a dinner party or just for a weeknight at home. In the end I made this for under $20! So simple, affordable and a crowd pleaser for my gals watching their wallet
Cheers,
mb.
