Cooking From Every Angle
The Humble Crostino, Revisited
- Merrill
Talking with the caterer this past weekend about the menu for our upcoming wedding, I was reminded of the great possibilities of one of the most humble of hors d'oeuvres: the crostino. The caterer suggested a few different kinds for our cocktail hour, including baked brie with a spicy pepper jelly and seared Muscovy duck breast with pear and apple chutney. These savory-sweet combinations made me think of two crowd-pleasing crostini I used to make all the time back when I worked as a caterer -- each starts with a savory base (toasted goat cheese or seared duck breast) and utilizes the same tart-sweet condiment for contrast: a simple red onion jam with red wine and sherry vinegar.
I posted the toasted goat cheese crostini to my profile back when we first started food52 and Amanda and I wanted give the recipe database a boost with some of our favorites, but when I did that, I hadn't made the crostini in at least five years. Inspired by this weekend's wedding planning marathon, I plan to change that. Below is the second recipe, with seared duck breast and red onion jam, which I haven't yet posted to my profile but which is no less delicious.
Crostini with Duck Breast and Red Onion Jam
Makes about 30 crostini
For the red onion jam:
- 2 medium red onions, halved lengthwise and thinly sliced
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 1/4 cup sugar
- 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
- Freshly ground black pepper
- 1/3 cup red wine
- 1 Tablespoon sherry vinegar
- 1 long, slender baguette
- Extra-virgin olive oil
- 2 large duck breasts, fat on
- 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
- Kosher salt
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Comments (29)
over 3 years ago TheWimpyVegetarian
We're having weekend guests in the mountains this weekend and this looks like the perfect appetizer the first night! Some recipes when you first see them, you just know you're going to love them. This is one of them. Thanks!
over 3 years ago merrill
Merrill is a co-founder of food52.
You're welcome! Let me know how they turn out.
about 3 years ago TheWimpyVegetarian
It was absolutely delicious!! I had to make a couple changes though because we're up in the mountains for 10 days and thelocal stores didn't have duck. So I substituted pork spare ribs basted with a mixture of BBQ sauce, Hoisin and ketchup. I sliced the meat off the ribs, laid them on the crostini (and when I ran out of French bread I switched to some toasted garlic naan I had), topped with your wonderful onion jam with a dollop of gorgonzola. Everyone just loved them. I have some gluten-free friends and plan to make this again wrapped in lettuce for them. Great appetizer with some heft to it. Thanks!
over 3 years ago amysarah
This looks delicious. I often make a similar - but slightly easier - crostino(i) topping: a smear of good, creamy gorgonzola dolce, with a jam of onions caramelized like yours, only with balsamic instead of sherry vinegar. The same topping works well on pizza - cut into small pieces to have with cocktails (if I'm feeling especially lazy, I just use purchased dough too.) And I always make an excess of the onions, because it's good on virtually everything, short of chocolate cake (maybe.)
over 3 years ago merrill
Merrill is a co-founder of food52.
Yum, yum, yum. Thanks for the gorgonzola dolce tip!
over 3 years ago thirschfeld
I really like red onion jam, used to use it on roast beef sandwiches. I learned to add some good grenedine to it instead of sugar.
over 3 years ago merrill
Merrill is a co-founder of food52.
Very interesting! I'll have to try it with grenadine sometime.
over 3 years ago shayma
this looks gorgeous, merrill. if one used walla walla onions would it be too sweet? i was just curious about the choice of red onion (one of my faves, too!). ps this is the best time- when youre doing all your 'wedmin'!
over 3 years ago merrill
Merrill is a co-founder of food52.
I think any type of onion would work -- I just happen to like the color of red onions for this. And thanks for allowing me to run my wedding plans by you all! You're a great support system.
over 3 years ago Berna
Best of luck to you, Merrill!
over 3 years ago merrill
Merrill is a co-founder of food52.
Thank you!
over 3 years ago AntoniaJames
AntoniaJames is a trusted source on Bread/Baking.
I think the reference to "this weekend" was to the marathon planning session of the weekend that just passed . . . . but thinking about brides-to-be are actually doing, a week before their weddings, I'm reminded of my own wedding, which occurred five days after my corporate tax exam during my third year of law school (which exam was the fifth exam in seven days!!) Actually, after all that, I was the most relaxed bride who ever got married. Attending to the many last minute details of a wedding was infinitely easier than the exams. ;o)
over 3 years ago merrill
Merrill is a co-founder of food52.
You're right, AntoniaJames! Poor wording choice on my part.
over 3 years ago coffeefoodwritergirl
A new way to use duck! This looks absolutely delicious. Can't wait to try it. And all the best to you for your wedding this weekend!
over 3 years ago merrill
Merrill is a co-founder of food52.
Thank you so much for your well wishes, but the wedding isn't until August. Minor miscommunication (see below).
over 3 years ago Lizthechef
You're getting married this weekend and posting recipes on Tuesday?! You are one well-organized bride-to-be...So many of us send best wishes for a beautiful day!
over 3 years ago merrill
Merrill is a co-founder of food52.
I wish I could be that well-organized! The wedding is in August -- planning session was this past weekend.
over 3 years ago aargersi
Abbie is a trusted source on General Cooking.
WOW that wedding came together FAST! Hmm ... perhaps a post wedding Food52 virtual shower is in order ...
and this recipe looks awesome
over 3 years ago merrill
Merrill is a co-founder of food52.
Still another six months to go... (see comment below). But thanks for the virtual shower suggestion! I'm flattered.
over 3 years ago mariaraynal
Wow, your wedding is this weekend!?! Congratulations and enjoy! Very exciting. Oh, and the recipe is lovely, too. : )
over 3 years ago merrill
Merrill is a co-founder of food52.
Oops! No, the wedding isn't until August -- poor choice of words. I meant that we met with the caterer this PAST weekend to plan.
over 3 years ago Culinista Annouchka
Yum!! Congratulations on the wedding!
over 3 years ago merrill
Merrill is a co-founder of food52.
Thanks!
over 3 years ago djgibboni
Bravissima, Merrill, in your use of the proper singular, "crostino." I get very tired with so much poorly used Italian, in particular the use of Italian plurals as English singulars: 1 panini, 2 paninis, and so on!
over 3 years ago Zahirah
I think Italian plural errors are international. I've definitely seen one panini down here in Argentina. I guess if it doesn't have an S at the end, people assume it's singular?
over 3 years ago merrill
Merrill is a co-founder of food52.
It's actually one of my pet peeves too -- spent a semester in Italy during college!
over 3 years ago pierino
pierino is a trusted source on General Cooking and Tough Love.
I agree with djgibboni on this one as well. It's like saying sandwiches's. My mother always used to add a possesive apostrophe S to the name of any Italian restaurant even if it wasn't somebody's name.
over 3 years ago shayma
i agree with pierino and djgibboni, however, i have gotten looks from people who feel i am being really pretentious when i say cappuccini or i want a panino. or if i say Roma or Milano, same looks. grrrrrrr
over 3 years ago merrill
Merrill is a co-founder of food52.
I know, don't you hate that? Why do so many shun linguistic accuracy, rather than salute it? Although this does make me think of Giada, who really likes to get in there and roll those r's whenever she comes to an Italian word. I'll admit, it sometimes makes me giggle a little.