46 crostini recipes

This simplest of pesto recipes becomes an easy and delicious cracker spread by adding softened cream cheese.

Flank steak crostini: smoky grilled flank steak sliced thin over goat cheese, roasted red peppers, and fig jam on toasted baguette. An elegant, savory-sweet party appetizer.

Provençal tapenade dip with green olives, capers, anchovies and an egg yolk emulsion. Briny, salty Mediterranean spread for crackers, crudités and crostini.

Vegan mushroom spread made with sauteed leeks, garlic, oregano, and a hit of horseradish, pureed smooth. A savory appetizer for crackers, crostini, or turnover filling.

Mushroom pate with a pound of sauteed mushrooms, dry vermouth, Parmesan, sour cream, and toasted pecans. A rich, earthy spread for crackers and crostini.

Condimento Pugliese: roasted red pepper spread with olive oil and red pepper flakes. A chunky Italian condiment for crostini, pasta, or bruschetta. Five ingredients, no cook.

Roasted eggplant and vegetable pate with charred eggplant, yellow peppers, ginger, jalapeno, cumin, and lime. A smoky vegan spread for crostini, crackers, or sandwich filling. Keeps a week.

Ligurian caviar is an Italian olive paste spread blended with capers and red pepper flakes. A briny, spicy vegetarian crostini topping that keeps in the fridge for two weeks.

Caramelized onion topping with rosemary and toasted pine nuts, slow-cooked in butter and olive oil. A savory make-ahead spread for crostini, pizza, roast meats, or tossed with pasta.

Spinach pesto appetizer: a sliceable, high-protein cheesecake-style savory loaf with spinach, cottage cheese, cream cheese, and Romano. Perfect make-ahead party food served chilled with crackers or crostini.

Italian-style hot fish pickle made from canned tuna, salmon, or anchovy mashed with white wine, vinegar, olive oil, garlic, and Mediterranean herbs. A bold spread for crackers, crostini, or pasta.

Polenta Toscana with rosemary and toasted walnuts sauteed in olive oil, stirred into creamy polenta. Serve it soft or cool it and slice into crostini. A simple Tuscan vegetarian side or appetizer.

Black olive paste (pure di olive nere) blends pitted Italian or French olives with olive oil, lemon, pepper, and bread crumbs. Italian-style spread for crostini, sandwiches, and pasta. Vegan, keeps for weeks.

Italian-inspired pork liver pesto: a savory blend of seared pig liver, basil, walnuts, garlic and aged cheese folded into a silky olive oil emulsion. Serve as a crostini spread or pasta sauce.