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Stuffed Crostini

17/11/2023

Stuffed crostini are a tasty and versatile snack, perfect for aperitifs or as an appetizer. Here I propose a basic recipe and then some variations.

Ingredients for basic stuffed crostini:

  • Slices of homemade bread or baguette
  • Garlic
  • Extra virgin olive oil
  • Salt

Ingredients for the toppings:

  • Cherry tomatoes, fresh basil, mozzarella (for Caprese-style crostini)
  • Prosciutto, soft cheese (like stracchino or goat cheese)
  • Sautéed mushrooms
  • Artichoke cream and Parmesan
  • Taggiasche olives, anchovies, and capers (for a puttanesca version)

You can naturally choose the topping you prefer or adapt the suggested ones according to your tastes or the ingredients you have available.

Preparation

  1. Toast the bread: Preheat the oven to 180 °C (356 °F). Cut the bread into slices about one and a half centimeters thick. If you like, you can lightly rub the slices with a peeled garlic clove to give them an extra aroma. Arrange the bread slices on a baking tray lined with parchment paper and drizzle with a stream of extra virgin olive oil and a pinch of salt. Bake and leave to toast for about 5-10 minutes, or until the edges become golden and crispy.

  2. Prepare the toppings: While the bread is toasting, prepare the toppings you’ve chosen. For example, for a Caprese crostini, dice the cherry tomatoes, tear the mozzarella, and chop the fresh basil; for sautéed mushrooms, you can clean the mushrooms and slice them thinly, then sauté them in a pan with garlic, oil, parsley, and a pinch of salt.

  3. Stuff the crostini: Once the bread is toasted, remove it from the oven and let it cool for a few seconds. Then, spread or lay your chosen topping on each slice of bread.

  4. Final touches: If necessary, you can put the stuffed crostini back in the oven for a couple of minutes, especially if they contain cheese that you want to melt slightly. Be careful not to burn very delicate toppings like the one with artichokes and Parmesan.

Serve them hot or at room temperature, depending on the topping and your preference.

Curiosity

Crostini are a classic of Italian cuisine, and each region prepares them with the typical fillings of the territory. For example, in Tuscany, the famous ‘crostini neri’ are made with chicken livers.

Stuffed Crostini