Appetizers, starters and tapas should be quick and simple to bring together. Usually we need these small dishes for some sort of entertainment, whether it is a dinner party, game night or watching a game, we all love to snack while we await the main event.
This beautiful berry crostini is sweet, tangy, salty and ready in minutes. It starts with a sweet, creamy goat cheese spread that is topped with your favorite berries and then finished off with salty walnuts and a drizzle of balsamic.
They are colorful, inviting and incredibly flavorful. Let’s get started…
All you need to get started is a baguette, some berries, walnuts, balsamic and my quick goat cheese spread…
To make the goat cheese spread, simply mix a 4 ounce container of softened goat cheese with 2 tablespoons of honey and 1 tablespoon of fresh lemon juice until everything is smooth and creamy.
Now that the goat cheese spread is ready to go, simply spread a thin layer on some crisp crostini.
You have some options when it comes to the crostini. I usually thin slice a skinny loaf of italian bread or a french baguette, drizzle the slices lightly with olive oil and toast them on a grill pan or flat skillet until crisp. You could also place the lightly oiled slices onto a baking sheet and bake them at 350 degrees until crisp (about 10-12 minutes) or you can buy ready crisped crostini at your local grocery stores bakery counter and make this recipe even easier.
This recipe should make about 24 baguette sized crostini. If you are using larger pieces of bread, you’ll get fewer portions, but I think the 2 inch wide slices that come from a traditional baguette are the perfect size.
Once all of the slices have been topped with some goat cheese spread, add thinly sliced strawberries, halved raspberries or blackberries or small blueberries.
Drizzle some balsamic glaze over the berries and then sprinkle each crostini with finely chopped walnuts and a little sea salt and black pepper, especially if your berries are very sweet.
Garnish the crostini with some fresh mint, sweet basil or lemon thyme and arrange them on a platter.
The combination of flavors and textures going on here is fantastic. The crunchy crostini with the creamy goat cheese and juicy berries makes for a wonderful trio and the flavors are just fabulous…
The goat cheese spread is a little sweet, a little tangy and a little tart. The berries add another punch of sweetness, the balsamic glaze add a layer of umami that will get your taste buds excited, while the walnuts and sea sea salt balance everything out perfectly.
They are sweet, salty, tangy and tart. Everything the perfect bite should be and if you are lucky, there will be a few left for you after everyone inevitably goes back for seconds.
Berries & Goat Cheese Crostini
Ingredients
- a small loaf of ciabatta, Italian bread or French baguette, thinly sliced
- 4 ounces of goat cheese
- 2 tablespoons of honey
- 1 tablespoon of fresh lemon juice
- fresh berries, whole or sliced
- 1/4 cup of walnuts, finely chopped
- 1/4 cup of fresh herbs, finely chopped
- balsamic glaze or reduction
- a pinch of sea salt and black pepper
Instructions
- In a small bowl, combine 4 ounces of goat cheese, 2 tablespoon of honey and 1 tablespoon of fresh lemon juice until smooth and creamy
- Finely chop 1/4 cup of walnuts and 1/4 cup of fresh herbs
- Top each crostini with a bit of the goat cheese mixture and some fresh berries
- Sprinkle some finely chopped walnuts and herbs over each piece, drizzle with balsamic and sprinkle lightly with sea salt and black pepper
- Enjoy immediately!
