Description
This easy 15-minute Crostini with Cheese and Homemade Strawberry Fig Preserves recipe explodes with flavor and elegance. Slices of crusty bread toasted to perfection with savory-zesty butter melted gouda cheese, then adorned with the goodness of strawberry-fig preserves.
The perfect blend of savory, sweet, and spicy!
Equipment Needed:
- Baking sheet or sheet pan
- Serrated knife
- Cutting board
- Parchment paper.
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup of my Strawberry-Fig Preserves Recipe (or any store-bought fig jam or fig spread)
- 4 slices of Crusty Bread (see notes). I used 4 large bread slices in this recipe since my Italian loaf was a bit wide.
- 1 cup of Shredded Gouda Cheese (see notes)
- 6 tablespoons of Salted Butter at room temperature
- 2 tablespoons of Extra Virgin Olive Oil
- 2 tablespoons of Pepitas - aka hulled pumpkin seeds (sunflower kernels work too)
- 1 teaspoon of Orange Zest (see notes)
- 1/2 teaspoon of Ground Chipotle Chili Peppers (see notes)
- Fresh Ground Black Pepper.
Instructions
Step 1: Make the flavored butter:
- Mix the butter, orange zest, ground chipotle chili pepper, olive oil, and freshly ground black pepper in a small bowl.
- Stir well until the mixture is well integrated and smooth. Adjust the amount of Chipotle based on your spice preference. You can start with less and add more to the taste.
- Set the broil to high.
- Slice the bread with a serrated knife to create equal slices that won't crumble under the toppings. I used medium-thick slices for this recipe due to the amount of crostini toppings.
Step 2: Toast the bread:
- Arrange the sliced bread on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. I used 4 large bread slices since my Italian loaf was a bit wide.
- Spread about half the butter mixture on one side of the bread slices
- (leave half the mixture to use for the other side)
- Broil for 2-3 minutes or until golden brown and toast to your desired crispness (Keep an eye on them – broilers can cook quickly). Then remove from the oven.
Step 3: Spread butter on the other side and sprinkle with Pepitas.
- Broil again for 1-2 minutes until golden brown and crispy. This step ensures the bread is golden brown on both sides and the pepitas are crunchy.
Step 4: Remove from the oven, sprinkle the cheese evenly among all bread slices.
Step 5: Return the bread to the broiler until the cheese is melted and bubbly.
Step 6: Dress the Crostini with the sweet fig preserves:
- Top each bread slice with a dollop of the strawberry fig mixture. Serve with fresh figs and some herbs like basil if desired.
That's it! Enjoy!
Notes
Best Bread for Crostini
Good crusty bread is the foundation of a good homemade crostini. A dense interior texture that is chewy yet airy is an excellent choice. Bread options to consider when looking at the grocery store offerings:
French baguette, Rustic Italian bread, Sourdough bread, and Ciabatta bread.
Suitable substitutes
- For Gouda Cheese: Gruyere, Edam, Swiss Emmental, Havarti, Cheddar, and even Muenster.
- For Orange Zest: Orange adds a unique and delicious touch, but lemon zest can work in a pinch)
- Ground Chipotle Chili Peppers is this recipe's smoky and spicy hero. A combination of Smoked Paprika and Chili Powder or Cayenne Pepper can work as a substitute.
Try this Fig Preserves Recipe as another topping option.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: Large Crostini
- Calories: 409
- Sugar: 17.9 g
- Sodium: 327.8 mg
- Fat: 32.2 g
- Carbohydrates: 27 g
- Fiber: 0.5 g
- Protein: 7 g
