Best Pesto Crostini Recipes

PEA PESTO CROSTINI

Steps:

• For the pea pesto: Pulse together the peas, garlic, Parmesan, 1 teaspoon of salt and 1/4 teaspoon of pepper in a food processor. With the machine running, slowly add the olive oil until well combined, about 1 to 2 minutes. Season with additional salt and pepper, if needed. Transfer to a small bowl and set aside.
• For the crostini: Preheat a stovetop griddle or grill pan on medium-high heat. Brush both sides of the sliced bread with olive oil and grill until golden, about 1 to 2 minutes. Transfer the bread to a clean surface and spread 1 to 2 tablespoons of the prepared pesto on each slice.
• Top with tomato halves and serve.
• *Cook's note: If you don't have day-old bread on hand, you can dry out fresh bread by putting the slices in a preheated 300 degree F oven until slightly crisp, about 5 minutes.

PESTO BRUSCHETTA ON GARLIC CROSTINI

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
• Make Pesto: Combine basil, garlic, Parmesan, Pecorino, and pine nuts in food processor or blender. Slowly drizzle in extra virgin olive oil until fully incorporated. Season with kosher salt and cracked black pepper. Arrange bread on rimmed baking sheet. Brush with olive oil and rub with cut side of garlic. Bake until beginning to crisp, about 8 minutes.
• While bread crisps, make pesto and halve cherry tomatoes lengthwise. Top crostini with pesto spread, fresh mozzarella and grape tomato slice.

MUSHROOM PESTO CROSTINI

Steps:

• Place the porcini mushrooms in a bowl of hot water; press to submerge. Let stand until the mushrooms are tender, about 15 minutes. Scoop out mushrooms, being carefully not to stir any dirt that may have sunk to the bottom of the water. Discard mushroom water.
• Combine the porcini mushrooms, button mushrooms, walnuts, garlic, and parsley in a food processor and pulse until coarsely chopped. With the machine running, gradually add 1/2 cup of the oil, blending just until the mushrooms are finely chopped.
• Transfer the mushroom mixture to a medium bowl. Stir in the Parmesan. Season the pesto with salt and pepper, to taste. If not using mushroom pesto right away, cover tightly with plastic wrap to prevent possible discoloration of mushrooms.
• Preheat a grill pan to medium-high heat. Arrange the bread slices on pan, cut-side down. Brush the remaining 1/4 cup of oil over the bread slices. Cook until pale golden and crisp, about 5 minutes.
• Alternatively, you can toast the bread in the oven. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Arrange the bread slices on 2 heavy large baking sheet. Brush the remaining 1/4 cup of oil over the bread slices. Bake until pale golden and crisp, about 15 minutes.
• Spread the mushroom pesto over the crostini. Arrange the crostini on a platter and serve.

ARTICHOKE, CHERRY TOMATO, AND FETA SALAD WITH ARTICHOKE-PESTO CROSTINI

Steps:

• For pesto:
• Place all ingredients in processor. Blend until finely chopped. Season to taste with salt and pepper. DO AHEAD: Can be made 1 day ahead. Cover and chill.
• For salad:
• Whisk shallot, vinegar, 2 tablespoons chopped parsley, mustard, and garlic in medium bowl. Gradually whisk in oil. Season to taste with salt and pepper. DO AHEAD: vinaigrette can be made 1 day ahead. Cover and chill.
• Spread 1 tablespoon pesto over each baguette slice. Sprinkle parsley over crostini. Mix baby greens, artichoke hearts, and cherry tomatoes in very large bowl. Toss with enough dressing to coat lightly. Sprinkle feta over.
• Serve salad with crostini.

PESTO CROSTINI

Steps:

• Place the bread slices on an ungreased baking sheet. Combine butter and garlic; spread over bread. , Broil 3-4 in. from the heat or until lightly browned. Cool slightly. Spread pesto over butter mixture; top with tomatoes and cheese. Broil 3-5 minutes longer or until cheese is melted.

SWEET PEA PESTO CROSTINI

Steps:

• Preheat broiler. Place peas, garlic, vinegar, salt and lemon pepper in a blender or food processor; pulse until well blended. Continue processing while gradually adding oil in a steady stream. Add cheese; pulse just until blended. Add broth; pulse until mixture reaches desired consistency., Cut baguette into 20 slices, each 1/2 in. thick. Place on ungreased baking sheet. Broil 4-5 in. from heat until golden brown, 45-60 seconds per side. Remove to wire rack to cool., To assemble crostini, spread each slice with about 1 tablespoon pesto mixture; top with tomato pieces.

FILET MIGNON CROSTINI WITH ROSEMARY PESTO

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Heat a cast-iron skillet over medium-high heat.
• For the filet mignon: Sprinkle both sides of the steak with ample amounts of salt and pepper. Add the olive oil to the skillet and then add the steaks. Sear each side until a nice char appears and the steak is medium-rare (125 to 130 degrees F), 5 to 6 minutes. Let the meat rest for 10 to 15 minutes.
• For the crostini: Drizzle each side of the baguette slices with olive oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Place on a baking sheet and toast in the oven until lightly golden, 7 to 10 minutes. Once toasted, schmear a thin layer of gorgonzola on each crostini.
• For the crostini build: Thinly slice the rested steak and top each gorgonzola-schmeared crostini with slice or 2 of filet. Spoon a bit of Rosemary Pesto on top and garnish with the tomato slices and sea salt. Seal the deal with a little Dean Martin and a good glass of wine.
• In a food processor, process the herbs, Romano cheese, nuts, garlic and some salt and pepper until smooth. Scrape down the sides of the bowl with a spatula and, with the motor running, stream in the olive oil. Taste and adjust the seasoning as necessary.

WILD MUSHROOM AND PESTO CROSTINI

Steps:

• Heat olive oil in a large skillet.
• Add garlic and saute for 2-3 minutes until brown over medium-high heat.
• Add mushrooms and saute for 8-10 minutes until thoroughly cooked.
• Remove from heat and add sauteed mushrooms to a small mixing bowl of prepared pesto. Toss until mushrooms are evenly coated.
• Slice whole wheat baguette in half length-wise and then cut into small 1/2 inch slices.
• Toast until golden brown and then top with mushrooms and Parmesan. Enjoy!

ARTICHOKE AND GREEN GARLIC SOUP WITH NETTLE-WALNUT PESTO CROSTINI

Steps:

• Fill large bowl with ice water and juice from 1/2 lemon, then drop same lemon half into water. Cut off artichoke stems and discard. Using serrated knife, cut top inch off artichokes. Working with 1 artichoke at a time, bend back outer leaves until they snap off close to base. Discard several more layers of leaves in same manner until exposed leaves are pale green at top and pale yellow at base. Cut off green tips. Gently pull open center of artichoke and, using melon baller or spoon, scoop out small, purple-tipped leaves and fuzzy choke. Using sharp paring knife, trim outside of base until no dark green areas remain, then quarter artichoke, rub cut surfaces with other lemon half, and drop into water. Trim remaining artichokes in same manner.
• In heavy 6-quart pot over moderate heat, heat oil until hot but not smoking. Add onions, leek, and garlic, and sauté, stirring occasionally, until soft, about 8 minutes. Drain artichokes and add to pot along with potato chunks, chicken stock, salt, pepper, and 4 cups water. Bring to simmer, then reduce heat to low, cover, and cook until artichokes and potato are soft, about 20 minutes.
• Working in 4 batches, purée soup in blender until very smooth, then pour through fine-mesh strainer into clean pot. Set over moderately low heat and stir in juice of remaining lemon. Ladle into shallow bowls and gently place nettle-walnut pesto crostini in center of each.

PEA AND MINT PESTO CROSTINI

Steps:

• For the pea pesto: Pulse together the peas, Parmesan, garlic, and mint with 1 teaspoon of salt and 1/4 teaspoon of pepper in a food processor. With the machine running, slowly add the olive oil until everything is well combined and you have a smooth puree, about 1 minute. Season with additional salt and pepper, if needed. Transfer to a small bowl and set aside.
• For the crostini: Brush one side of the sliced bread with olive oil and toast it until golden brown and crispy. You can grill the bread if you prefer.
• Transfer the bread to a serving platter. If necessary, cut the bread slices so that you have slices about 2 inches long. Spread one heaping tablespoon of the pea pesto on each slice. Top each slice with a tomato half or a bit of diced tomato and serve.
• For maximum crispiness, use day old bread or fresh bread that's been dried out in a 300F oven for about 5 minutes.

GOAT CHEESE-PESTO CROSTINI

Steps:

• In a small bowl, combine the oil, pesto and Parmesan cheese. Place bread slices on an ungreased baking sheet; brush with pesto mixture. Broil 3-4 in. from the heat for 3-4 minutes or until edges are lightly browned. , Meanwhile, in a large skillet, cook bacon over medium heat until crisp. Remove to paper towels to drain. , Combine goat cheese and arugula; spread over bread. Sprinkle with bacon and pine nuts.

ROASTED RED PEPPER PESTO CROSTINI

Steps:

• Preheat an oven to 350°F.
• Arrange the baguette slices on a baking sheet and brush lightly on both sides with the 1/4 cup olive oil.
• Lightly toast both sides of bread in oven.
• While the crostini are still warm, rub the top of each one with 1 of the garlic cloves. Set aside.
• In the bowl of a food processor, combine the red peppers, the remaining garlic clove, the almonds, cheese, 3 Tbs. of the parsley, the lemon juice, the 2 teaspoons olive oil and the cayenne pepper. Pulse until a coarse puree forms. Season with salt and black pepper.
• Place the crostini in a single layer on a baking sheet.
• Spread about 2 teaspoons of the goat cheese on each crostini.
• Bake until the cheese is slightly soft and the crostini are warm, about 5 minutes. Transfer to a platter and top each with about 1 Tbs. of the red pepper pesto.
• Sprinkle with the remaining 1 Tbs. parsley.

ARTICHOKE, CHERRY TOMATO, AND FETA SALAD WITH ARTICHOKE-PESTO CROSTINI

Steps:

• pesto Place all ingredients in processor. Blend until finely chopped. Season to taste with salt and pepper. DO AHEAD Can be made 1 day ahead. Cover and chill. salad Whisk shallot, vinegar, 2 tablespoons chopped parsley, mustard, and garlic in medium bowl. Gradually whisk in oil. Season to taste with salt and pepper. DO AHEAD Vinaigrette can be made 1 day ahead. Cover and chill. Spread 1 tablespoon pesto over each baguette slice. Sprinkle parsley over crostini. Mix baby greens, artichoke hearts, and cherry tomatoes in very large bowl. Toss with enough dressing to coat lightly.

PESTO-BOCCONCINI CROSTINI

Steps:

• Dividing evenly, spread crostini with prepared pesto; top with bocconcini. Season with salt and pepper.

CROSTINI WITH EGGPLANT PESTO

Steps:

• Peel eggplant, leaving a few narrow bands of skin intact. Cut eggplant crosswise into 1/2-inch-thick rounds. Place on large baking sheet; sprinkle lightly with salt. Let stand 30 minutes.
• Preheat broiler. Rinse eggplant; pat dry with paper towels. Brush large baking sheet with olive oil. Brush eggplant rounds generously on both sides with olive oil. Place on prepared sheet. Broil eggplant until tender and golden brown, watching closely to avoid burning, about 6 minutes per side. Cool.
• Finely grind pine nuts and garlic in processor. Add eggplant and process to coarse puree. Transfer mixture to small bowl. Stir in chopped basil, parsley and mint. Season with salt and pepper. (Can be made 1 day ahead. Cover and chill. Bring to room temperature before continuing.)
• Place eggplant pesto in center of platter and surround with toasts, or spread toasts with eggplant pesto and arrange on platter. Garnish with basil leaves and serve.

PESTO AND TOMATO CROSTINI

Steps:

• Heat oven to 375°F. Place bread slices on ungreased cookie sheet.
• Spread each slice bread with a scant tablespoon of the pesto. Top with tomatoes; sprinkle with cheese.
• Bake about 8 minutes or until hot and cheese is melted.

BEEF CROSTINI WITH PESTO MAYONNAISE

Steps:

• Heat oven to 450°. Place beef in ungreased shallow baking pan. Brush with 1 tablespoon oil; sprinkle all sides with salt, pepper and rosemary. Insert meat thermometer so tip is in thickest part of beef. Bake uncovered 20 to 25 minutes or until thermometer reads at least 140°. Cover beef with aluminum foil and let stand 10 to 15 minutes until thermometer reads 145°.
• While beef is baking, mix pesto and mayonnaise in small bowl.
• Reduce oven temperature to 400°. Brush bread slices with 3 tablespoons oil. Place in ungreased jelly roll pan, 15 1/2x10 1/2x1 inch. Bake 6 to 8 minutes or until crisp.
• Meanwhile, cut beef into thin slices. Top each bread slice with beef and 1 teaspoon pesto mayonnaise. Garnish with basil leaf. Arrange appetizers on serving platter.

PESTO CAPRESE CROSTINI RECIPE BY TASTY

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 425˚F (220˚C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
• Arrange the bread in a single layer on the prepared baking sheet. Brush each piece of bread with olive oil. Lightly sprinkle with salt. Bake for 12-14 minutes, until the edges are light golden brown. Let cool.
• Spread 1 tablespoon of pesto over each crostini. Top with tomato and mozzarella pieces.
• Enjoy!

PEA PESTO CROSTINI

Steps:

• For the pea pesto: Pulse together in a food processor the peas, garlic, Parmesan cheese, salt, and pepper. With the machine running, slowly add 1/3 cup of the olive oil and continue to mix until well combined, 1 to 2 minutes. Season with more salt and pepper, if needed. Transfer to a small bowl and set aside.
• For the crostini: Preheat a stovetop griddle or grill pan over medium-high.
• Brush both sides of each of the bread slices with the remaining 1/3 cup olive oil and grill until golden, 1 to 2 minutes. Transfer the bread to a platter and spread 1 to 2 tablespoons pesto on each slice. Top each crostini with 2 tomato halves and serve.
• cook's note
• Day-old bread works best here because it stands up to the pea purée and isn't too soft in the center. If you don't have any on hand, you can dry out fresh bread by putting the slices in a 300°F oven until slightly crisp, about 5 minutes.

SUN-DRIED TOMATO PESTO CROSTINI

Steps:

• Top toast with sun-dried tomato pesto and yellow tomato slices.