Croutons With Goat Cheese Or Olive Caper Spread Recipes

GOAT CHEESE CROUTONS

Steps:

• Brush the sliced baguette with olive oil, toast in a 350 degree oven until crisp and golden. Remove from the oven and allow to cool for several minutes before spreading a thin layer of cheese on each crouton and dust the cheese with black pepper. Place the croutons under a broiler to brown the cheese slightly before serving.;

SMOKED SALMON, GOAT CHEESE AND MUSTARD CROUTON

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
• Blend honey and dijon mustards, red onion, capers and dill.
• Arrange bread on baking sheet and lightly brush with olive oil.
• Bake until crisp, about 10 minutes. Cool.
• Spread croutons with goat cheese, then mustard mixture. Top with smoked salmon.
• Garnish with a little more dill.

EASY GAZPACHO & GOAT CHEESE CROUTONS

Steps:

• Cut the tomatoes, scallions, cucumber, and onion in large pieces and place them in a food processor fitted with the steel blade. Add the garlic and pulse until the soup is coarsely pureed. Place it in a large bowl and whisk in the vinegar, olive oil, celery salt, red pepper flakes, tomato paste, tomato juice, 1 tablespoon salt, and 1 1/2 teaspoons pepper. Cover with plastic wrap and chill for 4 hours or overnight.
• When ready to serve, preheat the broiler and place the top rack 5 to 7 inches from the heat. Cut 6 (1/2-inch-thick) diagonal slices from the baguette. Place on a sheet pan, brush with olive oil, and broil for 1 to 2 minutes on one side. Turn the slices, spread with the goat cheese, and broil for another minute, until the cheese is warm and the bread is toasted. Serve big bowls of cold soup with a warm goat cheese crouton and a drizzle of olive oil.

GOAT CHEESE CROUTONS WITH WILD MUSHROOMS IN MADEIRA CREAM

Steps:

• Goat Cheese Croutons
• In a small bowl, use a fork to combine the goat cheese and butter. Lightly toast the bread. Spread equal portions of the goat cheese mixture on the toast. Trim the crusts and cut the squares in half. (The toasts will have a cleaner edge if you trim the crusts after spreading on the goat cheese.) Set aside.
• Madeira Cream
• In a small saucepan, simmer the shallots in Madeira until the liquid is reduced to 1/4 cup. Add the cream, bring to a boil, then lower the heat and simmer 5-10 minutes, until the cream thickens slightly. Set aside.
• Wild Mushrooms
• Turn on the broiler. Remove the tough stems from the mushrooms and discard. Slice or tear the mushrooms into pieces. Melt the butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat. When the butter is bubbling but not browned, add the mushrooms and cook until they're golden brown and crispy, 4-5 minutes. Stir in the garlic and Madeira cream. Turn the heat to high and boil for about 2 minutes, until the mushrooms have absorbed most of the cream. Season with salt and pepper and fold in the 2 teaspoons chives.
• Broil the goat cheese croutons until bubbly and lightly browned. Arrange the croutons on plates and spoon the mushroom mixture over them. Garnish with chives.

OLIVE-CAPER SPREAD

Steps:

• Puree olives with oil, basil, capers and garlic in processor.
• Transfer to bowl.
• Can be prepared 4 days ahead; refrigerate.
• Let stand one hour at room temp before serving.
• Croutons: Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
• Arrange bread slices on baking sheet.
• Brush both sides with butter.
• Bake until crisp and golden brown, about 10 minutes.
• Cool slightly.
• Can be prepared 1 day ahead.
• Cool completely; store in plastic bag at room temperature.