Patrick Oconnell
A delicious and simple appetizer, crostini with goat cheese, jam and prosciutto is a great dish to serve at a party or holiday gathering. The combination of creamy goat cheese, sweet jam, and salty prosciutto creates a unique blend of flavours and textures that will impress your guests. This recipe is also versatile, allowing you to use different types of jam and bread, and add extra ingredients like arugula, basil, or balsamic glaze to create a more complex flavour profile.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Type of Dish | Appetizer |
| Cuisine | Italian |
| Main Ingredients | Goat Cheese, Prosciutto, Bread, Fig Jam |
| Other Ingredients | Olive Oil, Salt, Pepper, Honey, Lemon Juice, Red Pepper Flakes, Sage, Arugula, Balsamic Reduction, Basil |
| Dietary Requirements | Not suitable for vegetarians |
| Preparation Time | 10-20 minutes |
| Cooking Time | 5-12 minutes |
| Serving Temperature | Hot or Cold |
| Texture | Crispy, Crunchy, Creamy, Tangy, Sweet, Salty |
| Taste | Hits every taste bud |
| Ease of Recipe | Easy |
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What You'll Learn
How to assemble crostini with goat cheese, jam and prosciutto
To assemble crostini with goat cheese, jam and prosciutto, start by slicing a baguette into thin slices, preferably on a diagonal. Brush the slices lightly with olive oil and season with salt and pepper. Toast the slices in an oven for 5-10 minutes, or until golden brown, flipping them halfway through. While the bread is toasting, prepare the prosciutto by laying out the slices on a foil- or parchment-lined baking sheet. Allow the prosciutto to cool, and then break it into bite-sized pieces. Bake the prosciutto at 400 degrees Fahrenheit for 5-10 minutes, or until crispy.
For the goat cheese topping, blend cream cheese, goat cheese, honey and olive oil in a food processor until creamy. Season with salt and pepper to taste. If you don't have a food processor, you can simply mix the goat cheese with honey and herbs like rosemary. You can also use whipped goat cheese or honey goat cheese.
Once the bread and prosciutto are toasted, it's time to assemble the crostini. Spread the whipped goat cheese onto the crostini, adding a dollop of jam on top. You can use fig jam, or any other type of jam or marmalade you prefer. Add a few pieces of arugula or basil, and then top with a piece of crispy prosciutto. For an extra touch, drizzle the crostini with balsamic reduction or balsamic vinegar.
This crostini recipe is a perfect appetizer, combining sweet and salty flavours with the creamy goat cheese, sweet jam, and salty, crispy prosciutto. It's a simple and quick dish that can be prepared ahead of time and assembled just before serving.
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Choosing the right bread for crostini
The best bread for crostini will have a crispy exterior and a soft interior, allowing it to hold various spreads, dips, and toppings without becoming soggy. Thin slices of bread are ideal, as they toast up evenly, creating a crunchy texture without becoming too hard to bite into.
While you can use any bread to make crostini, choosing the right kind will elevate your appetizers. A French baguette is a traditional choice for crostini, as its thin, uniform slices crisp up nicely in the oven, providing a satisfying crunch. Its mild, slightly sweet flavor also pairs well with a wide array of toppings. Alternatively, ciabatta has a more rustic texture with a chewy interior. Sourdough bread is another option, as its tangy flavor pairs well with both sweet and savory spreads.
When preparing crostini, it is important to slice the bread thinly and evenly. A serrated knife is the best tool for this, as it will cut through the bread without crushing it, creating uniform slices. The slices should be about 1/4-inch thick and arranged on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper for easy cleanup.
Baking the crostini at the right temperature is also crucial to achieving the perfect texture. The goal is to dry out the bread so that it becomes crispy without burning or hardening too much. The ideal baking temperature is 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 15-20 minutes.
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Preparing the goat cheese spread
You can make the whipped goat cheese a few days in advance and store it in the refrigerator. Just be sure to let it come back to room temperature before using it so that it spreads easily.
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Baking the prosciutto
Preheat your Oven:
First, preheat your oven to the desired temperature. Different recipes suggest temperatures ranging from 350°F to 400°F. Choose a temperature that works best for your oven and ensures even cooking.
Prepare the Baking Sheet:
Line a baking sheet with foil or parchment paper. This provides a non-stick surface and makes cleaning up easier. You can also use a bare baking sheet if you prefer, but ensure it is well-greased or seasoned to prevent sticking.
Slice and Arrange the Prosciutto:
Take your prosciutto slices and lay them out flat on the prepared baking sheet. If you want them to crisp up faster and more evenly, avoid overlapping the slices. You can also cut the prosciutto into smaller pieces before baking to speed up the crisping process.
Season the Prosciutto (Optional):
Some recipes suggest seasoning the prosciutto with a light sprinkle of salt and pepper before baking. This adds a savoury note to the prosciutto and can enhance the overall flavour of the dish. However, this step is optional, and you may choose to season the crostini after assembly instead.
Bake the Prosciutto:
Place the baking sheet with the prosciutto in the preheated oven. Bake until the prosciutto is crispy and has reached your desired level of doneness. The baking time will vary depending on the thickness of the prosciutto slices and the desired crispness. Check on the prosciutto regularly to avoid overcooking, as it can go from crispy to burnt quite quickly.
Remove from the Oven and Cool:
Once the prosciutto is crispy, remove it from the oven and let it cool down. The prosciutto will continue to crisp up slightly as it cools. If you want smaller pieces for topping your crostini, break the prosciutto into bite-sized pieces at this stage.
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Serving suggestions for crostini with goat cheese, jam and prosciutto
Crostini with goat cheese, jam, and prosciutto is a great appetizer to serve at a holiday gathering or cocktail party. It's also a good dish to bring to a party, as you can prep the goat cheese and prosciutto ahead of time and do the toasting at the event. It's a simple dish to make, with most of the work being assembly rather than cooking.
If you're serving this dish as an appetizer, you can pair it with some fresh grapes and a side of fig jam. It also goes well with an Apple Cider Martini. You can also serve it with other holiday recipes, such as Smashed Potatoes with Cheese, Baked Brie with Garlic and Honey, Crack Green Beans, and Balsamic Glaze Brussels Sprouts.
If you want to make a full crostini board, you can serve it with other crostini varieties. Some examples include Parmesan crisps, burrata bruschetta, or crostini with ricotta or mascarpone cheese if you like those varieties. You can also serve it with a variety of toppings, such as arugula or basil, or use different types of bread, like French bread or a baguette.
If you're making this dish for a larger crowd, you can easily double, triple, or quadruple the recipe. You can also make some adjustments to the recipe if you're unable to find certain ingredients. For example, if you can't find fig jam, you can use apricot preserves instead.
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Frequently asked questions
High-moisture goat cheese is best for making crostini as it is easier to spread. Other kinds of goat cheese are crumbly and dry, making it harder to spread evenly.
You can use any type of bread, but a baguette is the most popular choice.
Slice the bread thinly and diagonally, brush with olive oil, and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Bake in the oven until golden brown.
You can use apricot, apple, black cherry, or blackberry jam or compote.
You can use salami or fresh prosciutto.
