Crostini With Ricotta And Red Onion Jam Food

CROSTINI WITH RICOTTA AND RED-ONION JAM

Steps:

• In a small saucepan, combine butter, red onion, and sugar; season with salt and pepper. Cover and cook over medium-low, stirring every 10 minutes, until onion is soft and slightly caramelized, 30 minutes. Add wine and vinegar and cook, uncovered, stirring occasionally, until mixture is thick and glossy, about 20 minutes. Let onion jam cool to room temperature (or cover and refrigerate, up to 3 days; bring to room temperature before using). Divide ricotta among crostini and top with onion jam.

WHITE BEAN RAGOUT CROSTINI WITH RED ONION JAM

Steps:

• Note: Beans do not need to be soaked. Rinse beans and place in an All-Clad 3.5 quart round oven. Cover with 8 cups water and add carrot, celery, shallot, garlic and 2 teaspoons salt. Bring to a simmer, cover, and continue to cook over very low heat until beans are soft, about 1 hour 20 minutes. Remove vegetables and bay leaf. Drain liquid from beans and return to pot. Mash with a potato masher until smooth, but still somewhat textured. Season with remaining 2 teaspoons salt, olive oil and lemon juice and mix well.
• In a large skillet, heat olive oil over medium heat. Add onions and salt and saute until soft and somewhat translucent, about 15 minutes. Add wine, brown sugar and balsamic vinegar and reduce heat to low. Continue to cook until liquid is almost completely gone, about 30 minutes longer. Stir in red wine vinegar and check seasoning, adding more vinegar if desired.
• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Brush both sides of the bread slices with olive oil and arrange in a single layer on rimmed baking sheets. Bake until golden and crispy, about 15 minutes. As soon as the bread is cool enough to handle, rub one side with garlic clove to infuse with flavor. Top each crostini with about 1 tablespoon bean ragout and 1 1/2 teaspoons of onion jam. Top with mint chiffonade and drizzle with olive oil.

CROSTINI WITH DUCK BREAST AND RED ONION JAM APPETIZER

Steps:

• In a large, covered pan over low heat, cook the onions, butter, sugar, salt and pepper to taste, stirring occasionally, until the onions are soft and slightly caramelized, about 30 minutes. Add the wine and vinegar and simmer uncovered, stirring occasionally, until thick, about 20 more minutes. Cool to room temperature before using. (Makes about 2 cups.)
• Using a very sharp knife, score the fat on each of the duck breasts and halve each breast lengthwise. Heat a large, heavy stainless steel or cast iron pan over medium-high heat, adding the vegetable oil as soon as it is hot. Sprinkle each piece of duck generously with salt and gently place in the pan, fat side down. Sauté until the fat is golden brown, about 4 minutes, and then continue to cook, turning every minute or so to sear each side of the meat, until the duck is medium to medium rare, about 7 to 9 minutes total. Remove from the pan and let it rest until it is no longer hot.
• Heat the oven to 350 degrees. Cut the baguette on the diagonal into 1/4-inch slices and arrange them on a baking sheet. Brush the slices lightly with olive oil and bake until lightly browned, about 10-15 minutes. Do not overbake, or the crostini will be too hard.
• To assemble, slice each piece of duck into 1/4-inch slices. Arrange a slice on top of each of the crostini and top with a small dab of the onion jam. Serve immediately.

ROASTED TOMATO, RICOTTA AND BASIL CROSTINI

Steps:

• For the crostini: Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper.
• Cut the baguette into thin slices and put them on one of the prepared baking sheets. Brush the bread with olive oil, then sprinkle with salt and pepper to taste. Bake until they are golden brown and crunchy, about 15 minutes.
• For the roasted tomatoes: In a medium bowl, mix together the tomatoes, honey, olive oil and red wine vinegar and season with salt and pepper. Put the mixture on the other prepared baking sheet and bake until the tomatoes start to color and shrivel, about 25 minutes.
• For the ricotta: In a medium bowl, mix together the ricotta, olive oil and garlic powder until well combined. Season with salt and pepper.
• When the crostini are cooled slightly, spread the ricotta cheese mixture over the top of each piece, and then top with the roasted tomatoes, drizzling any extra juices over the top. Garnish with the chiffonade of basil.

CROSTINI WITH RICOTTA AND GOAT CHEESE

Steps:

• Heat a grill pan over medium-high heat. Brush 2 tablespoons of olive oil over the bread slices. Grill the bread until golden brown, about 2 minutes per side.
• Stir the goat cheese, ricotta cheese, basil, lemon peel, and remaining 1 tablespoon of oil in a small bowl until smooth and creamy. Season, to taste, with salt and pepper. Spread the cheese mixture over the crostini. Arrange the toasts on a platter and serve.

CROSTINI WITH GORGONZOLA, CARAMELIZED ONIONS, AND FIG JAM

Steps:

• To prepare jam, remove stems from figs. Place figs and juice in a food processor; process until figs are coarsely chopped.
• Place fig mixture, 2 cups water, syrup, and dash of salt in a medium saucepan; bring to a boil. Reduce heat, and simmer 25 minutes or until thick. Cool completely.
• To prepare onions, heat a large nonstick skillet coated with cooking spray over medium heat.
• Add onion, vinegar, 1/2 teaspoon thyme, and 1/4 teaspoon salt; cover and cook 5 minutes. Uncover and cook 20 minutes or until onion is deep golden brown, stirring occasionally.
• While onion cooks, add 1/2 cup water, 1/4 cup at a time, to keep onion from sticking to pan.
• Spread 1 teaspoon cheese over each baguette slice. Top each slice with about 1 teaspoon onion mixture and 1 teaspoon jam. Sprinkle evenly with thyme leaves.