Balsamic Glazed Pear And Goat Cheese Crostini Recipes

PEAR AND GOAT CHEESE CROSTINI

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
• In small bowl, mix together sour cream and goat cheese with a fork until well blended.
• Bake baguette on pan or oven rack for 7 minutes.
• Carefully slice pear into 1/4 inch slices.
• Once baguette is golden-crisp, remove it from oven and gently cut into ~1 inch slices. Arrange slices flat on serving platter.
• Take one heaping spoonful of goat cheese mixture and spread it on a slice of baguette.
• Top with a pear slice.
• Do this for each slice of baguette, then generously drizzle honey over all of the slices.
• Sprinkle rosemary on top.

PEAR AND GOAT CHEESE CROSTINI

Steps:

• Cut the baguette into ½ inch - ¾ inch (1.5-2 cm) thick slices. Toast them using a toaster until they look to your liking. Don't burn them.
• Meanwhile: Prepare the cheese mixture by combining ricotta and goat cheese in a bowl (use a fork to mash it). Rinse and pat dry the pears. Cut them into quarters lengthwise. Remove the seeds and any hard parts. Slice each piece thinly and set aside (see note 4). Roughly chop the hazelnuts.
• When the toasts are ready, take one slice, spread some cheese mixture over, top with 2 pear slices, drizzle with honey and top with hazelnuts. Repeat until all the crostinis are ready.
• Best served right away! (see note 6)

WHIPPED GOAT CHEESE CROSTINI WITH BALSAMIC-ROASTED GRAPES

Steps:

• Position racks in the upper and lower thirds of the oven and preheat to 450 degrees F. Grease a rimmed baking sheet with olive oil and set aside for the crostini.
• Toss together the grapes and the 2 tablespoons of the olive oil on another rimmed baking sheet; season with kosher salt and pepper. Top with the sprigs of thyme. Roast on the upper oven rack until the grapes blister, 10 to 15 minutes.
• Meanwhile, whisk to combine the 1/4 cup olive oil with half of the chopped thyme, half of the garlic, a pinch of kosher salt and a few grinds pepper in a small bowl. Brush onto the tops of the baguette slices and place on the oiled baking sheet. While the grapes roast, bake the baguette slices on the lower oven rack for 5 minutes.
• Combine the goat cheese with the lemon zest, honey, remaining 1/2 teaspoon chopped thyme and grated garlic and a few grinds pepper in a food processor. Process until well combined, about 1 minute. Stream in the heavy cream with the machine running and process until the goat cheese is aerated and fluffy, 1 to 2 minutes. Taste and adjust the seasoning with kosher salt and pepper.
• Remove the grapes and bread from the oven and set the oven to broil. Flip the crostini. Remove and discard the sprigs of thyme from the grapes and carefully toss the grapes with the balsamic vinegar. Return the grapes to the upper oven rack and the crostini to the lower rack and broil until the grapes are caramelized and the bread is toasted, about 5 minutes -- watch closely, as broilers vary.
• To plate, spread the whipped goat cheese in a shallow bowl, top with the grapes and drizzle with any juices from the baking sheet. Sprinkle with flaky sea salt, thyme leaves and pepper. Place on a platter with the crostini and enjoy.