A Trio of Springtime Crostini Toppings
Sweet, bright spring green peas in the pod, plump, juicy strawberries, and beautiful tart rhubarb are the star ingredients in this trio of toppings for crostini. A great way to showcase the flavours of Spring!
So simple to make, with lovely fresh ingredients like these it doesn’t take much to create something that is not only delicious, but beautiful too!
Rhubarb Thyme Jam and Goat Cheese Crostini
Sweet, tangy and a little bit of heat, this Rhubarb Thyme Jam hits all the flavour notes. It’s absolutely scrumptious on top of creamy goat cheese.
You will want to make extra of the Rhubarb Thyme Jam! Thinned with a little water, it makes a delicious salad dressing. Use as a sauce for chicken or pork, or in a grilled chicken sandwich for a healthy, low fat alternative to mayonnaise.
Spring Pea and Mint Crostini
Fresh spring peas, mint, a little olive oil and lemon juice and zest combine together in this pretty Spring Pea and Mint Crostini.
It’s a delicious way to take advantage of beautiful fresh peas when they are in season.
The trick is not to overcook the peas, you want to allow all of their lovely sweet flavour to shine through. And of course, you can’t go wrong with the classic combination of mint with peas!
Strawberry, Basil, Prosciutto Crostini
Fresh strawberries are macerated in a little balsamic vinegar with a dash of ground pepper for this simple Strawberry, Basil, Prosciutto Crostini . The sweetness of the strawberries contrasts beautifully with the peppery basil and the saltiness of the prosciutto.
Replace the prosciutto with some goat cheese for a delicious meat free alternative.
Ingredients
- 1 cup chopped rhubarb
- ¼ tsp cinnamon
- 3 tbsp cider vinegar
- 1 tbsp honey
- 1 tbsp brown sugar
- 1 tbsp grated fresh ginger
- 1 tsp fresh thyme leaves (plus more for garnish)
- a pinch of red pepper flakes (or cayenne)
- salt and pepper to taste
- 6 tbsp goat cheese
- 1 tsp balsamic glaze (optional)
- 6 slices baguette or ciabatta (or your favorite bread)
Instructions
Rhubarb Thyme Jam Crostini
- Place the rhubarb, cinnamon, cider vinegar, honey, brown sugar, ginger and red pepper flakes in a saucepan. Bring to a boil and reduce to a simmer. Cook, stirring often, for about 10 minutes until thickened. Stir in the thyme leaves and season with salt and pepper to taste. Cool to room temperature.
- Toast or grill 6 slices of your preferred bread.Spread each slice with a tablespoon of goat cheese and top with rhubarb jam and a sprig of fresh thyme for garnish. Drizzle a little balsamic glaze over top of each, if using.
Nutrition
Ingredients
Spring Pea and Mint Crostini
- 1 cup water
- 1 cup fresh green peas
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 5-6 mint leaves sliced thinly (plus more for garnish)
- 1 tsp fresh lemon juice
- ⅓ tsp lemon zest
- salt and pepper to taste
- 6 slices baguette, ciabatta (or your favorite bread)
Instructions
- Prepare a bowl of ice water. Bring the water to a boil in a small saucepan. Add the peas and cook until crisp-tender, 2-3 minutes. Drain and transfer to the ice water until cooled. Drain well and transfer to a bowl.
- Using a hand-held immersion blender or a fork, pulse or mash the peas, leaving them a little chunky, or a smoother mixture if you prefer. Add the olive oil, lemon juice and zest and stir to combine. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Add the fresh mint just before you are ready to assemble the crostini.
- Toast or grill 6 slices of your preferred bread.Drizzle with a little olive oil. Divide the pea mixture between the bread pieces and garnish with fresh mint.
Nutrition
Ingredients
- 6-8 strawberries, sliced
- 8 basil leaves
- 3 slices prosciutto
- 2 tbsp balsamic vinegar
- freshly ground pepper to taste
- 6 slices of your favorite bread (e.g. baguette, ciabatta)
Instructions
- Place the sliced strawberries in a bowl, add the balsamic vinegar and toss to coat. Season with freshly ground pepper to taste. Cover and allow to rest on the counter for about an hour so that the berries will "juice". Chop two of the basil leaves and add to the strawberries just before assembling the crostini.
- Toast or grill 6 slices of your preferred bread.Place 1/2 a slice of prosciutto and a basil leaf on each piece of bread. Top with the strawberries and a drizzle of the balsamic juice from the bowl.