Herb Goat Cheese and Balsamic Tomato Crostini
September 8, 2008 by Culinary Cory
Filed under Appetizers
While I was exercising, I started to brainstorm new appetizer recipe ideas for an upcoming dinner party. Wow, what a surprise…I was thinking about food while I was EXCERCISING (aka. inducing pain).
I needed something that was simple and easy to make. The favors needed to be bold and appetizing, while being universal enough for all of the selective tastes of my guests to enjoy. It also needed to be something that could be comfortably held at room temperature without losing its texture.
That’s how Herbed Goat Cheese and Balsamic Tomato Crostini’s were born. The bold flavor of the soft goat cheese is a great contrast to the light acidity of the tomatoes. All served on top of a crisp on the outside yet still soft on the inside slice for freshly toasted French bread slices. Don’t even think about using dried basil for this dish. The fresh aromatic flavor of fresh basil gives the entire presentation real punch. This is perfect for a party, or if you are like me, a great light dinner for one.
Herbed Goat Cheese and Balsamic Tomato Crostini
Olive oil spray
1 long French bread loaf
1 ½ cups tomatoes, diced
2 Tbl. shallots, finely minced
1 Tbl. balsamic vinegar
2 Tbl. fresh basil, minced
4 oz. herb goat cheesePreheat the oven to 400 degrees. Using a bread knife cut the French bread on a bias about ½ inch thick. Lay each slice in a single layer on a sheet pan and spray each side with olive oil. Place the sheet pan on the top rack of the oven and toast for 3 minutes on each side for a total of 6 minutes. Allow bread to cool before assembling.
In a separate bowl, lightly toss the tomatoes, shallots and balsamic vinegar until completely coated. Spread a small amount of goat cheese on one side of each toasted bread slice. Then, scoop a small spoonful of the tomato mixture on top of the goat cheese. Garnish with the basil and season to taste.
Authors Note: I like to use herb goat cheese to give the crostini’s even more flavor. Standard goat cheese is a great substitute. Also, to give even more crunch, try using a multigrain French loaf from your local market.
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This is a great take on bread. I am always looking for new bread based recipes for breakfast. Will definitely give this one a try.
This is a classic appetizer that should never go out of rotation. Delicious, easy to prepare, and full of flavors. I particularly like your use of shallots which is a nice subtle twist on the classic.
I LOVE basil and try to use it as much as I can. This recipe is so easy! I remember when I was testing it and planned to only toast half of the bread. I ended up eating the whole darn loaf!
The pictures of this recipe made my mouth water! I am growing a basil plant for the first time and I have lots of it, now I can try it in this yummy looking dish too. By the way, awesome pictures! I love your site. I like to cook for Brian, mostly homemade, so keep the recipes coming!