These tasty little toasts are an easy party appetizer that is sure to impress your guests!
It's a Friday afternoon in the middle of summer and I'm busy working. Suddenly I realize that I have a few friends coming over the next day to catch up and hang out on my patio and I haven't even thought about what I'm going to make. These Roasted Tomato Ricotta Crostini are a great solution for a last-minute appetizer, as they only take a few ingredients and are pretty easy to make. When I put these together really planning them as a blog post, however they were such a big hit I figured I'd share them with all of you! Serve them with this Rosé Sangria, or just a still Rosé, for a great pairing!
Besides being extremely tasty, and relatively healthy, these crostini have only 6 ingredients and take less than 15 minutes to make. You toast the bread on the grill at the same time you are roasting the tomatoes, so no heating up the kitchen on a hot summer day!
Once everything is cooked it's a quick assembly; spread the ricotta on the toasts, top with tomatoes and then here comes that wonderful balsamic glaze again. A little drizzle on top and you are ready to serve.
I assemble a platter of them to serve and then reserve the rest of the ingredients until guests are ready for more. This way you don't end up with soggy bread.
So, have you ever wondered about the difference between crostini and bruschetta? Technically bruschetta is focused on the bread and crostini is focused on the topping, however, the two are often used interchangeably. If you want to know more check out this post.
things you may want for this recipe
Balsamic Glaze – Just like with balsamic, the higher quality the vinegar, the more expensive, so if you are willing to spend a little more you can usually find several types of glaze at a specialty Italian store. This version from Alessi is available in more grocery stores and has a good flavor.
Olive Oil Mister – An olive oil mister is a super handy kitchen tool. It can be used for spraying olive oil on the bread before grilling, like in this recipe. As well as lightly coating salads and other veggies with oil. So far, I'd say this is the best one I've found, as it does not get clogged up with olive oil.
Veggie Grill Pan – If you are a fan of grilling veggies, a pan like this one is a must-have. The non-stick surface keeps things from sticking and holes are small enough to keep almost all types of veggies from falling through.
Roasted Tomato Ricotta Crostini
Ingredients
- 40 - 45 grape or other small sweet tomatoes, (less than a pint, halved)
- ½ teaspoon dried basil
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 40 baguette slices, about half a baguette
- 1 cup whole milk ricotta
- balsamic glaze, to taste
Instructions
- Pre-heat your grill to medium-low heat.
- Add tomatoes, basil and olive oil to a small mixing bowl. Toss to coat.
- Brush or spray one side of each baguette slice with olive oil.
- Place a veggie grilling pan or basket on the grill and add the tomatoes. Place the baguette slices oil side face down on the grill. Cook both tomatoes and baguette for 6 minutes, until baguette is golden brown. Remove both from grill.
- Place the toasted baguette slices on a serving tray. Top with ricotta cheese and tomato (about 2 tomato pieces per slice). Drizzle with balsamic glaze and serve immediately.
michele says
Ive never thought to use ricotta on a toast like that! Im an idiot because that is flipping brilliant! thanks so much for the great idea!
Michelle says
Simple and classy appetizer! I love it. The flavors of the tomatoes, ricotta and balsamic glaze make this absolutely heaven. I'm sure your guests were asking for more. Fantastic.
Jenni LeBaron says
These are such a great option for a dinner party or when you would like to serve a small bite to eat before the main course. Love anything with ricotta!
eLCitraKale@myhomediaryinturkey says
quick and easy meal is always my choice when somebody would come over to my house.. And you give me such a great and yummy idea to make one.
Nicoletta @sugarlovespices says
I like appetizers that are so easy to make, quick and yet packed with a lot of flavors! And I like the pairing with a nice rosé!
Tina says
I love crostini and I never thought to use ricotta. This is great! Thanks for sharing:)
Abby @ WinsteadWandering says
I'm game for anything with bread, cheese, and balsamic. I'll take a plateful, please!
Claire @ The Simple, Sweet Life says
I LOVE last minute appetizers. No matter what, they always seem to be the thing I forget to plan. I'll definitely keep these in mind the next time I'm entertaining.
Christine says
I'm hosting Thanksgiving this year and think that these would be an amazing appetizer. My family would absolutely love them!
Amanda says
Roasted tomatoes are SO delicious, and I love that you've paired them with creamy ricotta and sweet-tangy balsamic. What a great and easy appetizer for the upcoming entertaining season.
FoodieGirlChicago says
Thanks Amanda. I'm a fan of ricotta and balsamic - so many possibilities!
Kate says
All of these flavors sound soooo good! I love balsamic with tomatoes. So delicious!
Jere Cassidy says
I have discovered how much I love ricotta cheese (not just in lasagne) so I am glad to have your crostini recipe for something new to try. I love how easy this appetizer is.
Urban Foodie Kitchen says
Thanks Jere! It's one of my favorites for summer parties.