Hi, friends! How was your weekend?
Ours was pretty challenging and exhausting, so we’re keeping things short on this Monday.
We had an emergency situation again with Chris’ dad who requires 24/7 care.
So, we’re just going to ease into this Monday with a simple Charred Brussels Sprouts Crostini appetizer that’s totally easy and says everything festive holiday party to me! At least everything that doesn’t involve cookies, sugar, and butter.
I happened to be watching the Food Network (shocking, I know) a couple of weeks ago and Giada was doing some kind of holiday business. She made these Brussels crostini with cranberries and ricotta and I was totally sucked in.
I really loved the idea of slicing the sprouts really thin and charring them under the broiler. I can do that now that I have my new (Jan 2015) oven that has a broiler in the oven instead of the janky one I used to have that had a drawer and fire situation. That thing was so not cool.
Anyway, this crostini was delicious and you should totally add it to your holiday appetizer menu!
Have a fantastic week, y’all!
Charred Brussels Sprouts Crostini
Ingredients
- 1/4 cup sugar
- 1/4 cup Champagne vinegar
- 1/3 cup dried cranberries
- 1 pound Brussels sprouts shaved or sliced into very thin slices
- 1/4 cup olive oil plus 1-2 tablespoons for crostini
- 1 teaspoon salt
- pinch red pepper flakes - or more if you like things spicy
- 1 1/4 cups ricotta
- 24 1/2 inch thick slices baguette
Instructions
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Combine sugar and vinegar in a small saucepan and bring to a simmer over medium heat until sugar is dissolved, 2-4 minutes
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Remove from heat, add cranberries, and set aside
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Combine Brussels sprouts, 2 tablespoons olive oil, 3/4 teaspoons of the salt, and red pepper flakes, toss to coat and transfer to a parchment paper lined baking sheet
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Broil in top 1/2 of oven for 6 minutes, stirring halfway through and rotating pan if necessary to get all browned
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Remove from oven, toss in bowl with the cranberry mixture, set aside
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Heat oven to 400
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Transfer bread slices to a baking sheet, use 1-2 tablespoons of the olive oil to brush all the bread slices
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Toast in oven for 5-6 minutes, until golden brown and toasty
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Stir together ricotta, 1/4 teaspoon, and remaining 2 tablespoons olive oil until well combined
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Spread each bread slice with ricotta, top with Brussels and cranberry mixture
Adapted very slightly from Giada DeLaurentiis
Note: Giada topped hers with pine nuts. I left them off because I don’t like them, so either add them, leave them off, or I think some toasted almonds would be great too.