Crostini
I am planning an Italian-themed dinner party for about eight people (the guest of honor is a vegetarian but the rest of the guest are not).
I would like to make about six different kinds of crostinis as part of the appetizer course. So far i am thinking - (1) carmelized onions, (2) walnut pesto (a la gottino in nyc).
Other potential ingredients I have thought about but haven't decided on a dish: chicken livers, cheese, pickled something, beans, olives, mint....
Any ideas?
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9 Comments:
Marscapone cheese, proscuitto and fig or peach slice, drizzled lightly with honey.
Cannelini beans, lightly smashed, minced garlic, fresh sage or rosemary and thyme, salt, pepper, olive oil. Stir to blend and refrigerate to meld flavors.
Ricotta or goat cheese with roasted garlic, sun dried tomatoes and a drizzle of tapenade.
Ricotta, slivers of fresh basil, (maybe some proscuttio) grilled asparagus, slivers of parmesan reggiano, drizzle of good quality, fruity olive oil.
Good quality Italian style tuna, drained and mixed with lemon juice, olive oil, minced garlic or red onion, mashed anchovy and capers or a little tapenade. Chill until serving time. Serve on toasted crostini, with a thin slice or two of roasted red pepper. Garnish with fresh herbs.
Chopped artichokes and cooked spinach mixed with boursin or herbed soft cheese. (Sort of a cheaters artichoke-spinach dip on a crostini)
Top with a bit of tomato or red pepper for color contrast.
CJ McD at 5:22PM on 08/26/09
Ooh, those sound good, CJ McD.
One of my favorites is deeply roasted smushed eggplant with red pepper flakes and mint.
And I second the prosciutto. Any time I see that at a party I get all excited.
I once took red bell peppers and cherry peppers almost to the point of burnt, and placed that over goat-cheese on crostini. I think I drizzled that with some fruity oil and threw some fresh chopped oregano on it.
I like crostini that straddle sweet and savory - like a very sharp cheese with jam and thyme, or maybe a paper-thin slice of jalapeno over the jam...
And yes yes yes to the chicken liver. Oh God, yes. Good luck!
BangieB at 7:02PM on 08/26/09
Sun dried tomatoes with black olives, garlic and rosemary is a favorite of mine :-)
WickedGoodDinner at 9:14PM on 08/26/09
This is Croation, not Italian, but it is very, very good-
Roasted Eggplant and Pepper Caviar
Ajvar
Serves 10
2-1/2 pounds fleshy red and green peppers
1-2 hot peppers
approx. 1-1/2 pounds eggplant (2 medium, skin pricked lightly)
1/2 to 3/4 c. olive oil
2-3 cloves garlic, minced
vinegar to taste (red wine vinegar)
Wash and dry peppers and eggplant before grilling. Blister on the BBQ or under the broiler until all the skin is bubbled.
Remove from heat and place in covered dish or pan to hasten the peeling process. Let peepers cool, then peel and de-seed. Peel eggplant. Mince the peppers and eggplant coarsely, then set aside.
Heat oil in a stockpot and add garlic, stirring until soft. Add the minced peppers, eggplant and vinegar, adjusting the vinegar to taste. Cook over low heat, stirring continuously until the mixture thickens. The avjar is done when you can draw a wooden spoon through it and it leaves a path.
CJ McD at 9:14PM on 08/26/09
smoked salmon and goat cheese with a drizzle of olive oil ... garnished with a few capers and chopped parsley....
grilled zucchini with fresh mint
all of the above sound good to me!
pooch at 10:16PM on 08/26/09
oh my goodness all of these ideas are so inspiring! now i want to make like a dozen different kinds!
kristin314 at 9:24AM on 08/27/09
@ pooch-
smoke salmon and goat cheese!!! MMMMMMmmmm!
A riff on pooches idea- cream cheese, smoked salmon, thin slices of cumcumber, red onion and fresh dill
A nice topping of mushroom ragu would be nice for the vegetarians.
Marscapone, sliced strawberries or nectarines, drizzle of balsamic vinegar and honey, (dusting of fresh, finely minced rosemary- just a hint of or shaving of parmesan -optional)
Goat cheese, crumbled gorgonzola, finely shaved beef
CJ McD at 11:48AM on 08/27/09
OK here's what i decided on! thanks so much for the inspiration -
- eggplant caponata
- carmelized onions
- walnut pesto
- proscuitto with fig compote
- herbed white beans with heated red pepper oil
- some sort of cheese with truffle honey
kristin314 at 12:35PM on 09/01/09
@kristin314 - those sound delicious! your dinner guests are lucky :)
billyburgwife at 12:42PM on 09/01/09