Tomato & Whipped Feta Crostini – Crispy baguette rounds spread with a creamy layer of lemony whipped feta cheese and topped with juicy cherry tomatoes soaked in a tangy vinaigrette. This is the best appetizer you will ever make – you won’t be able to stop eating it!
Have you ever tried something that was so mind-blowingly incredible that it changes your life forever? Something that stops you in your tracks after you take a bite? Something that makes you want to go home immediately and make it for yourself? That’s what these tomato & whipped feta crostini did to me.
Let me explain.
We were having one of our frequent wine and cheese nights with some of our dear friends. My friend Laura served us these tomato & whipped feta crostini that she adapted from Ina Garten’s classic recipe. As soon as I took one bite, it felt like my world stopped. The lemony, creamy whipped feta cheese immediately grabbed my tastebuds, while the tangy tomatoes helped finish off the bite. I immediately had to have another one. And then another. And another. You couldn’t stop me!
After I ate about 10 crostini, I drilled Laura about the recipe. What are these? Where can I get the recipe? How long did it take you? Can you make me my own batch to take home? I was clearly obsessed.
So what makes these crostini so special? Let me break it down for you:
- Crostini is Italian for “a little crust.” So just think of crostini as pieces of crispy, crunchy bread. And there’s nothing like crispy french bread.
- The whipped feta spread is made with good feta cheese, cream cheese, lemon juice, and olive oil. So simple but man, that flavor is POWERFUL
- The tomato topping is a mixture of red and yellow cherry tomatoes tossed in red wine vinegar, minced garlic and shallots, and olive oil. There has never been a vinegary veggie that I didn’t like.
Laura has been super gracious to share her tips with me and even offer to come show me how to make these crostini herself. They’re super simple to make, which is dangerous for me because now I’ll be making them every week!
Here are a few of the tips that Laura shared with me (plus a couple of my own):
- Don’t cut the bread too thick or else it will be pretty hard to take a bite, especially since the tomatoes are stacked pretty high on top.
- Since the flavors of these crostini are so simple, you need to make sure you have the BEST ingredients. So make sure to buy some good-quality extra virgin olive oil, red wine vinegar, and feta cheese.
- For the feta cheese, I bought a block of feta and crumbled it myself. I’ve said this before about pre-shredded cheese – they add preservatives to it to keep the cheese from caking. This also keeps the cheese from combining well when you need it to. So whenever you need to melt or mix cheese together, shred or crumble it yourself! I asked for Laura’s opinion on the matter and she said she noticed that the spread was slightly creamier than when she uses pre-crumbled cheese. To be certain, she’s going to try both out at home and report back her findings. Stay tuned for the final verdict.
- Make sure to season the spread and tomatoes well. You’ll be shocked at how much the flavor can transform with just a little salt and pepper. Plus, salt really brings out the juices in the tomatoes.
- When placing the tomatoes on the bread, make sure to use a slotted spoon to drain the juice. The juice will make the bread soggy so you want to drain as much as possible.
Now, you have all you need to make the most amazing crostini appetizer that you’ve ever had. Try them out ASAP and let me know how many you inhaled!
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Tomato and Whipped Feta Crostini
Ingredients
- 1 large baguette
- 6 ounces feta cheese crumbled
- 2 ounces cream cheese
- 2/3 cup extra virgin olive oil divided
- 2 tablespoons lemon juice freshly squeezed
- 2 small shallots minced
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
- 2 pounds cherry tomatoes mixture of red and yellow
- 1 handful fresh basil leaves
- salt and pepper (to taste)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Slice baguette into 1/2 inch slices and place on large baking sheets. Bake for 8 minutes or until rounds are crispy. Set aside.
- Prepare the whipped feta cheese spread by placing feta cheese, cream cheese, lemon juice, 1/3 cup olive oil, salt, and pepper in food processor and mix until completely combined. Set aside.
- Prepare the tomatoes by cutting into quarters (if the tomatoes are really small, cut in halves) and place in large bowl. Add vinegar, shallots, garlic, and remaining 1/3 cup of olive oil to the bowl. Season with salt and pepper. Take 1/2 of the basil leaves and minced them finely. Add to the bowl and mix the contents together.
- Spread about 1 1/2 teaspoons of the whipped feta onto each baguette round. Scoop tomatoes with a slotted spoon and place on top of each baguette. Thinly julienne the rest of the basil into very thin ribbons and sprinkle them over the tops of the prepared crostini. Serve immediately.
Notes
Pin for later:
More recipes you’ll love:
Goat Cheese Stuffed Sweet Peppers
Mini Ham and Cheese Quiche with Caramelized Onions
Shrimp & Grit Cake Bites
I’ve had this pinned for years,,. Finally made an executive decision to try with grilled filet and roasted mushrooms with garlic/olive oil…DELISH!!! Thanks!!
How far in advance can u make the cheese and tomato mixture? If i make the day before and leave in separate containers will it hold so i can just assemble at party?
The cheese is good to make up to a couple days ahead and it will be fine. The tomato mixture will break down (and make the mixture super juicy) if made too soon but a day ahead should be fine. But overall, I like your plan of keeping in separate containers the day before and assembling at the party. Way to think ahead!
This sounds so delicious! I definitely need to try if at my next dinner party – I absolutely love feta and tomato!
Wow, this looks so delicious! I can’t wait to try this–it is tomato season too!
I never would have thought of whipped Feta, but boy does it sound yummy!
These look amazing! What a pretty, elegant, and delicious appetizer. Plus,
they combine all of my favorite flavors. I’m definitely making these soon!
Thanks so much! I love how elegant and rustic it is at the same time
These ate so colorful and pretty! They look delicious as well. I’d love to make these sometime!
Thanks so much!! Let me know if you give them a try!
This is seriously perfect party food!! I never make crostini but I keep seeing Giada make it on the food network so I’ve been wanting to give it a go! Will have to try yours 🙂
Yes! Giada makes them all the time but I never tried them until this recipe. You’re gonna love them!
These look delicious! I love a good crusty bread with cheese!
Me too! Just can’t bean carbs and cheese
Oh man, anything with fresh tomato and basil. Sign me up! This looks delicious!
Thanks so much!
whipped feta sounds incredible! I love how simple it is, but I can only imagine how tasty! I cannot wait to try!
You’re gonna be blown away when you try it!
These look absolutely DELICIOUS!!! Pinning for later 🙂
Thanks so much!
This looks so delicious! What a great idea for an appetizer! I can’t wait to have fresh tomatoes!
I love the whipped feta on this yummy crostini. Looks so good!
mmmmm, you had me at feta. I am thinking a little crostini is not enough of this. I may make gargantua whole slices – I knew I got that ciabatta yesterday for something! I may also, in fact, eat it all myself. My husband need never know, right? Love it, and pinned it! 🙂
Haha love this! I have to admit – my slices were not tiny. I like topping mine with tons of tomatoes so small crostini were not gonna work. So I definitely approve this method!
Omg it all makes me so hungry! All of it looks so delicious, I’d love to try and make these for dinner one day for sure!
Yes! You’re gonna love them!
This looks so delicious and refreshing. It’s perfect for a spring or summer backyard gathering!
xo, Helene
http://www.circleskirtsandpetticoats.wordpress.com
Looks absolutely delicious. I will pin it to my pinterest board for later use.
Thanks
I don’t care for tomatoes but wow, this is so colorful, fresh, and tasty-looking that I would definitely try this!
The How-to Guru