Crostini with Balsamic Strawberries and Ricotta
These crostini with balsamic strawberries and ricotta are sweet, tart, creamy and perhaps the prettiest appetizers you can serve at your next fancy picnic, Mother’s Day brunch or bridal shower.
Prep Time10 minutes mins
Cook Time5 minutes mins
Total Time15 minutes mins
Course: Appetizer
Cuisine: International
Diet: Low Salt
Servings: 12 crostini
Calories: 48kcal
cutting board
bread knife
small bowl
baking sheet with rack
lemon zester or grater
measuring cup
small saucepan
- ½ cup strawberries - chopped
- ¼ cup balsamic vinegar
- 1 tsp. lemon zest
- 2 tsp. brown sugar
- 5 tbsp. ricotta
- ½ baguette
Slice the baguette into 12 ½ inch slices. Toast them at 350 F. for 5 minutes or until nicely toasted.
While your tiny toasts are toasting, chop strawberries into teeny, tiny pieces until you have ½ cup. If your strawberries are very ripe, you might want to place them on a paper towel while you prepare the balsamic reduction sauce to allow the juice to release. Otherwise, the strawberry juices will water down the sauce when combined.
In a small sauce pan, add 4 tbsp. balsamic vinegar and 2 tsp. of brown sugar. Reduce the vinegar over medium heat, stirring occasionally, for 6-8 minutes, until the consistency is somewhat thick and saucy.
While the sauce reduces, prepare 1 tsp. of lemon zest.
Combine strawberries and lemon zest, pour the balsamic reduction sauce into your measuring cup or bowl, and gently stir.
Add a little ricotta to each toast, then carefully add the delicious balsamic strawberries to the crostini.
1. Only use fresh strawberries
Frozen strawberries will release too much liquid once thawed and will be a bit too mushy to give these crostini a nice, fresh texture.
2. Assemble these crostini just before serving
Assemble the crostini about 20 minutes (at most) before serving. If you want to prep your strawberries and sauce a few hours beforehand, however, simply keep the chopped strawberries and sauce separate until you're ready to assemble the crostini.
Serving: 1crostini | Calories: 48kcal | Carbohydrates: 7g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 3mg | Sodium: 70mg | Potassium: 33mg | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 25IU | Vitamin C: 4mg | Calcium: 23mg | Iron: 0.4mg