Gluten-Free Crostini

My group of friends and I have a monthly wine club. It was started as a way to get a more in-depth knowledge of different wine region all over the world. The concept is simple: Pick a region, bring a wine from that region and some food.

For our first tasting, we delved into a region in Spain. I choose a simple and easy idea center around a crostini. The beauty of a crostini is that you can use whatever foods you have on hand. It can be simple or complex based on the flavor profile you want to build. I wanted to have some classic Spanish touches and some fun sweet treats to help cleanse our pallets. These crostinis were a hit! There was something for every palette and taste. In this recipe, I used Udi’s Baguettes toasted with butter in a 400-degree oven for under 10 minutes.

The next time you’re mostly a wine night, a family get-together or a holiday, give the crostini combinations below a try. Please don’t hesitate to post your own combination in the comments!

Ingredients:

Jamón & Cheese:

• Jamón or prosciutto
• Pickled red onions
• pesto
• Brie Cheese
• Baguette

Sweet Treat Palate Cleanser:

• Strawberries
• Honey
• Apple
• Brie Cheese
• Baguette

Savory Bite:

• Cherry Tomatoes
• 2 cloves of garlic
• 1 tablespoon Olive Oil
• Brie Cheese
• Pesto
• Baguette

Creation of the Crostini:

1. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. For the base of the crostini, cut the Udi’s Baguettes into 1/4th inch thick discs. Melt 3 tablespoons of butter in the microwave. Using a basting brush, brush the butter onto the Baguettes. Place the bread in the oven for about 10 minutes. Remove from oven and let cool.
2. For the Savory Bite Crustinis, quarter the cherry tomatoes and quick chop the 2 cloves of garlic. Combine the cherry tomatoes, olive oil and garlic in a saute pan. Sautee until soft or about 7 minutes.
3. Build the crostini!   

Jamón & Cheese:

1. Spread pesto over the bread.
2. Layer brie, Jamón and pickled red onions on the bread.
3. Repeat!

Sweet Treat Palate Cleanser:

1. Spread the honey over the bread.
2. layer strawberries, brie, and apples on the bread.
3. Repeat!

Savory Bite:

1. Spread pesto over the bread.
2. Layer brie and tomatoes on the bread.
3. Repeat!