Cheese Crostoni

Cheese crostoni is a tasty Italian snack or appetizer that can be served either hot or cold. They consist of rustic bread slices, often homemade or whole wheat, toasted and topped with melted cheese and other ingredients of your choice. Here’s how to prepare them:

Ingredients

• 4 slices of homemade or country bread
• 200 g of cheese of choice (could be mozzarella, fontina, taleggio, or a mix of Italian cheeses)
• 2 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil
• Salt and pepper to taste
• Herbs of choice (for example, rosemary or thyme)
• Optional additions: sliced tomatoes, prosciutto, olives, anchovies, sliced mushrooms or whatever you prefer to enrich your crostoni

Preparation

1. Preheat the oven to 200 °C.
2. Arrange the bread slices on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and drizzle lightly with extra virgin olive oil.
3. Bake the slices for about 5-10 minutes until they start to turn golden brown.
4. In the meantime, slice the chosen cheese or if it is already soft, prepare it to be spread.
5. Once the bread is slightly toasted, take it out and place the cheese on the slices. If you wish, also add any other ingredients you have chosen.
6. Put the crostoni back in the oven and cook until the cheese is melted and slightly golden, which will take about another 5-10 minutes.
7. Remove the crostoni from the oven and, if desired, sprinkle with a pinch of salt, pepper, and the fresh aromatic herbs.
8. Serve them hot, just as the cheese is nicely stringy.

In Italy, the choice of cheese for crostoni is crucial: each region may have its preferences and variations. You might find crostoni with buffalo mozzarella in Campania or with a good pecorino in Tuscany. It’s a dish that can be easily customized to your tastes or the ingredients that you have at home. Enjoy your meal!