10 Crostini Ideas
Having a hard time coming up with appetizer ideas for your next get together? Mix it up with a few of these simple crostini ideas. Some of the crostini are assembly only therefore they do not include a recipe.
Crostini are labelled from 1-10 starting from the left and moving to the right.
Basic Crostini Recipe
Prep time: 10 minutes
Cook time: 0 minutes
Total time: 25 minutes
Yield: Approximately 20-30 crostini
INGREDIENTS
1 baguette
2 cloves garlic
¼ cup olive oil
DIRECTIONS
Preheat oven to 350 F. Slice the baguette into ½ inch rounds. Arrange on a baking sheet, and brush olive oil on the top of each round. Place in the oven for 10 minutes. Slice the garlic cloves in half. Remove the crostini from the oven and rub each piece with the cut side of the garlic. Flip the crostini, brush with olive oil and rub with garlic and return to oven for an additional 5-10 minutes or until golden brown.
1. Smoked Salmon, Cream Cheese and Asparagus
2. Classic Tomato Bruschetta with Balsamic Reduction
The key to this recipe is using the freshest and ripest produce you can get your hands on.
Prep time: 5 minutes
Cook time: 0 minutes
Total time: 5 minutes
Yield: Approximately 20-30 crostini
INGREDIENTS
Basic Crostini Recipe (see above)
4 diced ripe tomatoes (I prefer Roma because they are less watery)
2 cloves of garlic, minced
1 handful of fresh basil, chopped
1 handful Italian Parsley, chopped
1 small red onion, diced
2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
Salt and pepper to taste
Grated Parmesan cheese
Balsamic reduction for drizzling
DIRECTIONS
Toss tomatoes, garlic, basil, parsley and onion with the olive oil. Season with salt and pepper. Place on top of crostini, garnish with Parmesan cheese and drizzle with balsamic reduction.
3. Creamy Mushroom Duxelle
Prep time: 8 minutes
Cook time: 7 minutes
Total time: 15 minutes
Yield: Approximately 20-30 crostini
INGREDIENTS
Basic Crostini Recipe (see above)
10 oz assorted mushrooms of your choice, finely chopped (portobellos, button mushrooms, cremini or shiitake will all work well)
1 tablespoon butter
¼ cup minced shallot
1 clove garlic, minced
2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
3 tablespoons Boursin cheese (you could substitute cream cheese)
Shaved gruyere cheese, to garnish
Chopped parsley, to garnish
Salt and pepper to taste
DIRECTIONS
Heat the butter and sauté the shallot and garlic over medium-low heat in a large skillet. Add the chopped mushrooms and continue to cook until the mushrooms release most of their moisture. Sauté until the mushrooms begin to brown. Deglaze the pan with the lemon juice, scraping all of the brown bits (flavour) from the bottom of the skillet. Stir in Boursin cheese and season with salt and pepper. If the mixture is too watery, continue to cook until desired consistency. Spoon hot mixture onto the crostini and garnish with parsley and shaved Gruyere cheese.
4. Brie, Fig Jam and Prosciutto
5. Olive Tapenade
Prep time: 5 minutes
Cook time: 0 minutes
Total time: 5 minutes
Yield: Approximately 20-30 crostini
INGREDIENTS
Basic Crostini Recipe (see above)
1 1/2 cups mixed pitted olives
¼ cup sun-dried tomatoes
2 tablespoons capers
2 cloves of garlic
1 anchovy fillet
3 tablespoons fresh parsley
3 tablespoons fresh basil
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
Salt and pepper to taste
DIRECTIONS
Place all ingredients in a food processor and blend into a coarse paste. Scoop onto crostini and enjoy! This will keep in the fridge for up to a week in an airtight container.
6. Roast Beef, Blue Cheese and Caramelized Onion
7. Avocado, Hard Boiled Egg and Chive
8. Lemony Mashed Peas with Parmesan
Prep time: 5 minutes
Cook time: 0 minutes
Total time: 5 minutes
Yield: Approximately 20-30 crostini
INGREDIENTS
Basic Crostini Recipe (see above)
1 cup frozen peas, thawed
1 garlic clove
2 tablespoons chives, divided
2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
3 tablespoons fresh parsley
Juice and zest of 1 lemon
Salt and pepper to taste
Shaved Parmesan cheese, to garnish
DIRECTIONS
Place all ingredients except Parmesan and 1 tablespoon of chives in a food processor and blend into a coarse paste. Scoop onto crostini and garnish with Parmesan and remaining chives.