Sun Dried Tomato Pesto Crostini Food

SUN-DRIED TOMATO PESTO CROSTINI

Steps:

• Top toast with sun-dried tomato pesto and yellow tomato slices.

SPICY SUN-DRIED TOMATO PESTO

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Boil the pasta until al dente according to the package instructions.
• While the pasta cooks, make the pesto. Add the tomatoes, peppers, hazelnuts, vinegar and chili sauce to the carafe of a food processor. Process until smooth, about 2 minutes. With the machine running, slowly drizzle in the olive oil. Season the mixture with salt and pepper. If the mixture seems too thick, add a splash of pasta water.
• Add the cheese, butter, half of the pesto and a ladleful of pasta water to a large bowl. When the pasta is ready, drain and add it directly to the bowl. Stir together, adding more pesto as desired, or more pasta water to reach the desired consistency. Grate more cheese over the pasta and garnish with basil leaves. Serve immediately.
• Extra pesto, placed in an airtight container and topped with a layer of olive oil, will keep in the refrigerator up to 2 weeks.

CROSTINI WITH SUN-DRIED TOMATO JAM

Steps:

• For the Sun-dried Tomato Jam: Place a medium saucepan over medium heat. Add the chopped sun-dried tomatoes, 1 tablespoon of the reserved sun-dried tomato oil, olive oil, onion, and garlic. Stir and cook until the onions are soft and beginning to brown at the edges, about 5 to 7 minutes. Add the sugar, vinegar, water, chicken broth, thyme, salt, and pepper. Bring the liquid to a boil, reduce the heat, and simmer, covered, for 30 minutes. Remove the cover and continue simmering until most of the liquid is reduced and the mixture is the consistency of jam, about 5 to 10 more minutes. Remove from the heat and set aside.
• For the Crostini: Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with foil.
• Place the baguette slices on the baking sheet. Using a pastry brush, lightly coat the baguette slices with olive oil. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Bake until lightly toasted, about 8 minutes.
• Place the soft goat cheese in a small bowl. Stir in the thyme.
• To assemble: Spread the crostini with Sun-Dried Tomato Jam and top with the goat cheese and herb mixture. Transfer to a serving plate and serve.

GOAT CHEESE AND SUN-DRIED TOMATO CROSTINI

Steps:

• Preheat the broiler.
• In the bowl of a food processor combine the sun-dried tomatoes, sunflower seeds, basil leaves, Parmesan, 3 smashed garlic cloves, and lemon juice. Add half of the olive oil and puree until smooth. If the mixture seems too thick add more olive oil. Taste and adjust seasoning with salt and pepper. Remove it from the food processor, pour it into a bowl and refrigerate if not using immediately.
• Put the baguette slices onto a baking sheet in 1 layer and toast them on both sides under the broiler until golden brown. Remove them from the broiler and rub each slice with the whole garlic cloves.
• Spread the toasts with the softened goat cheese, top each with a teaspoonful of sun-dried tomato pesto, and garnish with the remaining basil that has been cut into chiffonade. Arrange on serving platters and serve.

CROSTINI WITH SUN-DRIED TOMATO JAM

Steps:

• For the sun-dried tomato jam:
• Place a medium saucepan over medium heat. Add the chopped sun-dried tomatoes, 1 tablespoon of the reserved sun-dried tomato oil, olive oil, onion, and garlic. Stir and cook until the onions are soft and beginning to brown at the edges, about 5 to 7 minutes. Add the sugar, vinegar, water, chicken broth, thyme, salt, and pepper. Bring the liquid to a boil, reduce the heat, and simmer, covered, for 30 minutes. Remove the cover and continue simmering until most of the liquid is reduced and the mixture is the consistency of jam, about 5 to 10 more minutes. Remove from the heat and set aside.
• For the crostini:
• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with foil.
• Place the baguette slices on the baking sheet. Using a pastry brush, lightly coat the baguette slices with olive oil. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Bake until lightly toasted, about 8 minutes.
• Place the soft goat cheese in a small bowl. Stir in the thyme.
• To assemble:
• Spread the crostini with sun-dried tomato jam and top with the goat cheese and herb mixture. Transfer to a serving plate and serve.