Red Wine Cherry Tomato & Goat Cheese Crostini
I absolutely love a perfect piece of crostini.
The cutesy portions, easy prep, and fancy presentation? It’s all fabulous. So when I find myself in a cooking rut, crostini is always my go-to for easy inspiration. Because whether you pile it high with tons of insane ingredients or keep it crazy low-key, crostini is a reliable, easy way to feel like you just killed it in the kitchen. Without actually doing all that much.
Take, for example, this delightful tomato and goat cheese crostini! It takes just 7 ingredients, and is as delicious to enjoy as it is easy to make.
Going into this dish I knew I wanted to make a low-maintenance appetizer that could easily be scaled, so crostini was the obvious choice. Whether you use baguettes or crackers, crostini easily accommodates any size party, so it’s always a good app idea. As for the tomatoes? I know, they’re out of season! But after I found them at Trader Joe’s I couldn’t resist building my crostini around their ruby-red deliciousness. And let’s just say things turned out a-okay.
When roasting tomatoes I typically rely on a simple mix of salt, pepper, EVOO, basil, and oregano. This combo really brings out the tomatoes natural sweet + savory flavor, so it’s always been my go-to. But for this crostini I took things a step further, incorporating a touch of balsamic vinegar (tang!) and a healthy dose of red wine (acidity!!) to create an even bolder roasted tomato. The roasting time is the same — around 30 minutes — but the flavor explosion is heightened and brightened into something truly amazing.
I was legit eating them by the spoon.
Since the tomatoes are so robust, I complimented them with equally bold goat cheese. Goat cheese has incredible texture + flavor, it’s cool, creamy, and just so damn good. If goat isn’t your thing you can use a tamer cheese like ricotta, mozzarella, or fontina — The possibilities are endless. But there was just something SO perfectly balanced about the red wine drenched tomatoes + luscious, velvety goat cheese. So that’s def my #1 suggestion.
Slices of garlic-butter toasted baguette serves as the base, but for a quick-fix you can definitely sub in a crackers. Either way, this app is exactly the kind of recipe you can rely on in a pinch!
Fancy enough to impress your friends without being a hassle, make it for your next dinner party, book club, or lazy Saturday afternoon.
Or just for you. That’s totally cool too 🙂
Red Wine Cherry Tomato & Goat Cheese Crostini
Ingredients:
- 2 cups Cherry Tomatoes (~one pint)
- a few pinches of Salt & Pepper
- 1 tsp Oregano
- 1 tsp Basil
- 1 tbsp Extra Virgin Olive Oil
- 2 tsps Balsamic Vinegar
- 1/3 cup Dry Red Wine (ex: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot)
- 10 oz. French Baguette
- 1 tbsp Salted Butter, softened
- 1/2 tsp Crushed or Minced Garlic
- 4 oz. Goat Cheese, at room temperature*
- Fresh basil to garnish (optional)
Directions:
- Preheat oven to 450F.
- On cutting board slice cherry tomatoes in half, then transfer to large mixing bowl. Generously season with salt, pepper, oregano, and basil, tossing well. Next add in EVOO, balsamic vinegar, and red wine, again tossing well. Transfer tomatoes to oven-safe baking dish, then roast for 25 – 30 minutes until just begin to char/blister.
- While tomatoes roast, slice baguette. Next, combine butter and garlic in small dish and stir well until mixed. Evenly spread a thin layer of butter onto each slice, then toast in the oven for ~5 minutes until golden. This can be done either simultaneously with the tomatoes (tomatoes on the middle oven rack, bread on the top) or after the tomatoes are finished cooking – Whatever is easiest for you!
- When ready, layer toasted baguette with an ample schmear of goat cheese, then top with cherry tomatoes. Garnish with basil as desired, then immediately plate and serve.
* When tomatoes are half-way finished roasting, remove goat cheese from fridge to thaw to room temperature, it will be easier to spread this way!
this would be perfect for Valentine’s Day, just sayin’!
Delicious and easy to make! Will keep this one for sure!
yes super quick & easy! enjoy 🙂
Great appetizer too!
Have you ever made the tomatoes a day ahead?
I haven’t, but I think it would still work! Just store the roasted tomatoes in an airtight container in the refrigerator — good luck! xo
So do these need to be served warm? I want to make ans bring to a party. Anyone done that?
this can be absolutely served at room temperature!! they don’t need to be straight from the oven to be delicious 🙂
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What temp did you roast the tomatoes at to get them to char??
450F as directed! xo
This is officially my new favorite appetizer! So delicious and so simple! Its a alternate to my family’s traditional bruschetta!
wonderful! so glad you love it 🙂
Sounds very tasty! What is Evoo, not sure we have it in Canada. Thanks!
extra virgin olive oil!
Lovi it, simple, delicious, also add the tomatoes in pasta or make a tomato pie . Yum!Yum!
This is a keeper! I love it!! Will make again and again
so glad you enjoyed it 🙂
Should bread be turned over at some point to toast on both sides?
if you prefer that, then do so 🙂
I love this idea but we have a number of AA members in our family so the wine is out. Any other suggestions as to how I can make these crostini? The red tomatoes and basil leaves would be perfect for Christmas. Thanks!
Simply skip the red wine! The taste will be a little different, but still delicious — in the summer I roast my tomatoes in evoo + balsamic all the time (no red wine) so I know it will taste great. Enjoy!
And my name is spelled MIKKI not Mikke. Silly thing autocorrected my name. LOL