Pesto Puttanesca Crostini Appetizer Recipes

SIMPLE CROSTINI

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Arrange baguette slices on two large rimmed baking sheets; brush both sides with oil, and season with salt and pepper.
• Bake, rotating sheets halfway through, until golden, 15 to 20 minutes (if undersides are not browning, turn crostini over once during baking). Let cool on baking sheets. Top crostini with desired toppings, and serve.

SUPER EASY APPETIZER - TOMATO AND PESTO CROSTINI

Steps:

• Defrost the puff pastry, and cut into 16 squares.
• Cook in moderate oven for 10 minutes so that the pastry is slightly golden and starting to puff.
• On each square, place a bocconini slice, followed by a cherry tomato (flat size down) and a small blob of pesto.
• Put back into oven and cook a further 10 minutes until the boconncini have started to melt.
• Serve immediately.

CHUNKY PUTTANESCA CROSTINI

Steps:

• Heat the oven to 325 degrees F. Arrange the bread on baking sheets in a single layer. Toast in the oven until evenly golden, 12 minutes. Remove from the oven and set aside.
• Heat the olive oil in a skillet with tight fitting lid over medium to medium-high heat. Add the anchovies and stir to melt into the oil. When they are broken up and melted, stir in the garlic, red pepper flakes, tomatoes, capers and olives and cover the pan. Cook 7 to 8 minutes more to burst the tomatoes, then uncover. Mash any stray tomatoes with a potato masher or wooden spoon and fold in the parsley. Transfer the sauce to a serving bowl and serve with the toasts.

MUSHROOM PESTO CROSTINI

Steps:

• Place the porcini mushrooms in a bowl of hot water; press to submerge. Let stand until the mushrooms are tender, about 15 minutes. Scoop out mushrooms, being carefully not to stir any dirt that may have sunk to the bottom of the water. Discard mushroom water.
• Combine the porcini mushrooms, button mushrooms, walnuts, garlic, and parsley in a food processor and pulse until coarsely chopped. With the machine running, gradually add 1/2 cup of the oil, blending just until the mushrooms are finely chopped.
• Transfer the mushroom mixture to a medium bowl. Stir in the Parmesan. Season the pesto with salt and pepper, to taste. If not using mushroom pesto right away, cover tightly with plastic wrap to prevent possible discoloration of mushrooms.
• Preheat a grill pan to medium-high heat. Arrange the bread slices on pan, cut-side down. Brush the remaining 1/4 cup of oil over the bread slices. Cook until pale golden and crisp, about 5 minutes.
• Alternatively, you can toast the bread in the oven. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Arrange the bread slices on 2 heavy large baking sheet. Brush the remaining 1/4 cup of oil over the bread slices. Bake until pale golden and crisp, about 15 minutes.
• Spread the mushroom pesto over the crostini. Arrange the crostini on a platter and serve.