Grilled Veggie & Goat Cheese Crostini with Thyme

Grilled Vegetable and Goat Cheese Crostini
Category: Appetizers
Serves: 4

These Grilled Vegetable and Goat Cheese Crostini are a perfect combination of savory, smoky flavors and creamy cheese, offering a delicious bite-sized treat for any occasion. Whether you’re preparing them as an appetizer for a dinner party or a delightful snack for yourself, these crostini will surely impress.

Ingredients:

Nutritional Information (Approximate per serving):

Instructions:

1. Prepare the Grilled Vegetables:

   • Start by prepping the Belgian endive. Remove the outer leaves and slice the endive in half.
   • Heat a grill pan over medium-high heat and lightly grease it with a bit of olive oil.
   • Once the pan is hot, place the endive halves on the grill. Cook for 3-4 minutes, turning them halfway through to ensure both sides are nicely charred.

2. Grill the Eggplants:

   • While the endive is grilling, rinse the mini eggplants and pat them dry. Trim the ends.
   • Once the endive is done, grill the eggplants for another 3-4 minutes, turning them as needed to cook evenly and get a nice char on all sides.

3. Prepare the Baguette and Cheese:

   • Slice the baguette into 4 thick slices and place them on a baking sheet.
   • Cut the goat cheese (Stracapra) into small cubes, setting aside a few cubes for topping later.
   • Once the vegetables are grilled, arrange the grilled eggplant slices and endive halves on top of the baguette slices.

4. Add Tomatoes and Cheese:

   • Wash and halve the cherry tomatoes. Distribute them evenly over the crostini.
   • Sprinkle the remaining goat cheese cubes over the crostini for extra richness and flavor.

5. Bake the Crostini:

   • Preheat your oven to 200°C (about 400°F) on static heat.
   • Place the crostini in the oven and bake for 5 minutes, or until the cheese begins to melt and the bread becomes crispy.

6. Finish and Serve:

   • While the crostini are baking, pluck the leaves from a couple of sprigs of fresh thyme and chop them finely.
   • Once the crostini are ready, remove them from the oven, sprinkle with the freshly chopped thyme, and add a pinch of salt to taste.

7. Serve and Enjoy:

   • Your Grilled Vegetable and Goat Cheese Crostini are now ready to serve. They are perfect as an appetizer or a light snack, bursting with fresh flavors and a creamy texture from the goat cheese.

Enjoy these flavorful crostini as part of your next gathering or a cozy night in—either way, they’re sure to be a crowd-pleaser!