5 Easy Crostini Ideas! by Dara

It’s no secret amongst my family and friends that any plate of crostini is simply not safe around me. Whether it’s a holiday party, a celebratory birthday bash or a “just because” get-together, you will find me beside the appetizer table, eyeing all of the savory bites. Quite honestly, I’d be just as happy sitting down to a meal of crostini as I would be digging into a bowl of pasta.

It doesn’t take many ingredients or much effort to make a variety of delicious crostini. And they can be very economical to make, depending on the ingredients you choose. I’ve included five of my favorite flavor combinations here, but if you’d like more options, be sure to check out Heather’s post on 6 Ways to Elevate White Bread.

I hope you have a chance to try a few of these ideas!

 
 

Shrimp & pesto

Pesto is a favorite in our family, so this version is a no-brainer for us. Toss the shrimp with some olive oil, salt and pepper, and sear over medium-high heat until just cooked through. This should just take 1 to 2 minutes per side. Spread some pesto on baguette slices and top with the shrimp.

 
 

Fig jam & Brie

When it comes to crostini, I love nothing more than a combination of sweet and savory. This fig jam & Brie version is the perfect example! Spread a bit of the jam on each lightly toasted piece of baguette, top with a piece of Brie, then place in a 350ºF oven to melt the cheese. Watch carefully because it won’t take more than a few minutes.

 
 

Hummus, olive tapenade & roasted peppers

This crostini idea is as easy as it gets. Spread your favorite hummus on the baguette pieces, then top with a good store-made olive tapenade and some chopped roasted red bell peppers. All of the fabulous flavors of the Mediterranean on one piece of bread!

 
 

White beans, rosemary & garlic

Start by sautéing some garlic cloves in olive oil for about a minute. In a bowl, combine the white beans (cannellini or Great Northern beans), garlic/olive oil mixture, chopped fresh rosemary and salt. Mash with the back of a fork and spread the bean mixture on the baguette pieces. If the bean mixture is a little dry, mash with additional olive oil.

 
 

Buffalo chicken & Gorgonzola

These crostini are like game day heaven! All of the flavors of Buffalo chicken wings in one tidy, healthier little bite. Toss some chopped, cooked chicken breast with a cayenne pepper sauce (I use Frank’s Red Hot). Crumble some Gorgonzola cheese on top of the toasted baguette pieces, warm in the oven for a few minutes, then top with the chicken. If you’d like some crunch, stir some diced celery into the chicken mixture.

 
 

You can never have enough crostini ideas, so now I’d love to hear your favorites!