Blue Cheese Crostini with Balsamic-Roasted Grapes
Blue Cheese Crostini with Balsamic-Roasted Grapes is a crowd-pleasing appetizer that’s worthy of company, but so quick and easy to assemble, you’ll want to treat yourself and enjoy with a glass of wine for cocktail hour.
Servings: 10 servings
Ingredients
- 2 cups halved seedless red grapes
- 2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
- 1 1/2 tablespoons minced shallot I’ve made with and without, omitted here
- 2 teaspoons olive oil
- 1/2 teaspoon light brown sugar
- 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 French bread baguette cut into slices
- 3 tablespoons butter softened
- 2 ounces crumbled blue cheese softened
- Chopped toasted pecans
- Garnish: chopped fresh thyme
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 425°. Toss together first 6 ingredients.
- Arrange grapes in a single layer in a small roasting pan; bake 15 minutes or until grapes wilt and develop a thin syrup. Remove from oven.
- Increase oven temperature to broil with oven rack 7 inches from heat.
- Arrange bread slices in a single layer on a baking sheet. Stir together butter and cheese, and spread evenly over bread slices.
- Broil 2 to 3 minutes or until browned and bubbly. Spoon grape mixture over toasted bread, and sprinkle with pecans.
Notes
- If you’re not a fan of blue cheese, substitute another soft cheese like goat, Boursin or Brie.
- You can roast the grapes in advance, allow to cool and refrigerate the grapes with their syrup. When ready to serve, spread softened blue cheese/butter mixture on baguette slices, and broil until bubbly. Turn the oven back to 350°, top with roasted grapes and pecans and run back in oven for 5 - 7 minutes until grape mixture is warmed through.
- To make it even easier, spoon these balsamic roasted grapes and syrup over a wedge of Brie, cream or goat cheese and serve with baguette slices or crackers and let everyone help themselves
- Toast pecans to bring out the natural oils and enhances the flavor. Spread nuts in an even layer on a sheet pan in a 350°oven for 6-8 minutes or until fragrant. Your nose knows :) when they’re done. Remove from oven and allow them to cool.