Recipes For Crostini Toppings

CROSTINI - 8 DELICIOUS WAYS!

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 160°C / 320°F (all oven types).
• Brush bread with oil, sprinkle with salt, flip and repeat. Bake 5 minutes.
• Remove, then rub the surface lightly with garlic. Bake for a further 5 minutes until completely crispy, then remove and leave to cool fully before adding toppings.
• Place all ingredients except balsamic glaze in a bowl and gently toss. Taste and add more salt & pepper if desired. Spoon onto crostini, then drizzle with balsamic glaze. Done!
• Mix cream cheese, lemon zest, lemon juice, dill, salt and pepper. Spread on crostini, then fold salmon pieces on top. Top with 3 capers and sprig of dill each. Serve!
• Finely chop antipasto mix. Smear crostini with ricotta, pile on antipasto. Ready!
• Cook prawns: Toss prawns with 1 tbsp oil, garlic, salt and pepper. Preheat large skillet over high heat with 1 tbsp olive oil. Add half the prawns and sauté until just cooked. Remove, then repeat with remaining prawns.
• Cool, then chop into 0.75cm / 1/3" pieces and transfer to bowl. Add 1 tbsp olive oil, eschallots, coriander and lime. Toss, then add more salt and pepper to taste.
• Assemble: Smear crostini with avocado, then spoon on shrimp. Serve! No, wait - Eat one yourself, then serve. Because they'll be gone before you can even put the plate down, trust me! ????
• Spread crostini with goats cheese. Layer strawberry slices. Drizzle with honey just before serving and sprinkle with thyme leaves.
• Spread crostini with as much English Mustard as you dare(!), then cream cheese. Drape with a slice of beef, top with sprig of rocket.
• Mix chopped tapenade ingredients in a small bowl. Set aside for at least 30 minutes to let the flavours meld, then taste and add salt if required.
• Spread crostini with goats cheese. Pile on tapenade. Serve!
• Pea puree: Boil peas per packet directions until soft, then drain well. Transfer to small bowl with high sides. Add garlic, parmesan, olive oil, salt and pepper. Blitz with handheld blender stick until smooth. Stir through mint and lemon juice. Set aside to fully cool.
• Prawns: Peel then chop meat into 0.75 - 1 cm pieces.
• Assemble: Smear crostini with pea puree. Pile on prawn, drizzle with olive oil, sprinkle with parsley and chilli.

CROSTINI 8 WAYS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400°F.
• Place the sliced baguette pieces in an even layer on a baking sheet.
• Brush the baguette slices with olive oil.
• Place in the oven for 5-7 minutes, or until lightly brown and crispy.
• Spread the hummus on the crostini.
• Top with sun dried tomatoes, feta cheese crumbles, a drizzle of olive oil and a pinch of dried oregano.
• Place a slice of mozzarella cheese on the crostini.
• Top with a piece of sliced prosciutto, sliced cherry tomatoes, chopped fresh basil and a drizzle of balsamic glaze.
• Place a slice of brie cheese on the crostini.
• Top with a piece of sliced prosciutto, chopped pistachios and a drizzle of honey.
• Spread goat cheese on a crostini.
• Top with chopped dates, chopped pistachios & a drizzle of maple syrup.
• Spread goat cheese on a crostini.
• Top with a slice of salame, sliced figs and 2-3 drops of truffle oil.
• Spread goat cheese on a crostini.
• Top with a fresh sliced jalapeno, blackberry and drizzle of honey.
• Place a piece of brie on a crostini.
• Top with hot pepper jam.
• Place a slice of mozzarella cheese on a crostini.
• Top with basil pesto and crushed red pepper flakes.

CROSTINI

Steps:

• Set the oven to broil at 425 degrees F (220 degrees C).
• In a small saucepan, combine the olive oil, butter and garlic. Set over medium heat, and cook until butter has melted and the mixture starts to bubble. Season with salt and pepper. Remove from the heat.
• Dip each slice of bread into the garlic mixture, turning to coat each side. Place Parmesan cheese on a plate. Press one side of each piece of bread into the cheese, and place cheese side up on a baking sheet.
• Broil on the middle rack of the preheated oven for about 8 minutes, or until golden brown.

ROASTED GARLIC CROSTINI WITH ASSORTED TOPPINGS

Steps:

• 1. Preheat the oven to 375°F. Put the garlic in a roasting pan and drizzle on the olive oil. Toss to coat thoroughly. Bake for 50 to 60 minutes, or until the garlic bulbs are very tender but not overly brown. Test by carefully giving a bulb a gentle squeeze while protecting your hand with a folded kitchen towel or an oven glove. Remove from the oven and allow to cool.
• 2. Using a sharp serrated knife, cut each head of garlic crosswise in half, midway between its leaf and root ends, to expose all the cloves inside. Their pulp will be golden brown and as soft as butter. You can squeeze it out of each half by hand or scoop it out with a small spoon or knife. Transfer the roasted garlic to a small bowl, pour in any olive oil from the baking dish, and stir and mash with a fork to form a smooth purée. You'll have 1/3 to 1/2 cup of purée, depending on the size of the garlic heads.
• 3. To make the Roasted Garlic Crostini, preheat the oven to 375° F. Brush the bread slices with the olive oil and arrange them on a baking sheet. Bake them until golden, 12 to 15 minutes. Remove them from the oven and let them cool to room temperature. Spread the puréed roasted garlic evenly on the tops of the crostini. Top the crostini with any of the options listed above, or make an assortment. Spread some with 1 tablespoon each of goat cheese; then decorate the cheese with strips of roasted bell pepper or a mixture of sun-dried tomato strips and capers, or a smear of tapenade. In place of the goat cheese, top others with diced tomato tossed with some fresh basil, a pinch of crushed red pepper flakes, and a drizzle of balsamic vinegar; with prosciutto and Parmesan cheese; with anchovy fillets and freshly ground black pepper; or with slices of Roma tomato and fresh mozzarella, topped with fresh basil leaves.

SIMPLE CROSTINI

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Arrange baguette slices on two large rimmed baking sheets; brush both sides with oil, and season with salt and pepper.
• Bake, rotating sheets halfway through, until golden, 15 to 20 minutes (if undersides are not browning, turn crostini over once during baking). Let cool on baking sheets. Top crostini with desired toppings, and serve.