Baked Caprese Crostini Recipe
These Baked Caprese Crostinis are a delightful appetizer featuring toasted baguette slices topped with fresh mozzarella, ripe tomatoes, and fragrant basil, all drizzled with extra-virgin olive oil. Perfect for entertaining or a light snack, they combine classic Italian flavors with a crispy, warm bite.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Total Time: 20 minutes
- Yield: 30 crostinis (serves 15)
- Category: Appetizer
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
Main Ingredients
- 1 large French baguette
- 4 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, divided
- Sea salt to taste
- 5 large Roma tomatoes
- 30 small slices fresh mozzarella cheese
- 1 bunch fresh basil, leaves removed and coarsely chopped
- Ground black pepper to taste
Instructions
- Preheat the oven. Preheat your oven to 450 degrees F (230 degrees C) to prepare for toasting the bread and baking the crostinis.
- Prepare the bread slices. Cut the baguette into 30 slices. Brush both sides of each slice with 2 tablespoons of extra-virgin olive oil and arrange them evenly on a baking sheet. Sprinkle lightly with sea salt.
- Toast the bread. Place the baking sheet in the preheated oven and toast the bread slices until they become light golden brown and crisp, about 5 minutes. Keep an eye on them to prevent burning.
- Slice the tomatoes. While the bread toasts, cut each Roma tomato into 6 slices to prepare the topping.
- Add tomato and cheese. Flip each toasted bread slice over. On each slice, place one slice of tomato followed by one slice of fresh mozzarella cheese. Sprinkle a little sea salt over each topped slice.
- Bake the crostinis. Return the baking sheet to the oven and bake until the tomato is warmed through and the mozzarella has melted, about 5 minutes.
- Garnish and serve. Transfer the warm crostinis to a serving platter. Sprinkle the chopped fresh basil over the top, then drizzle with the remaining 2 tablespoons of olive oil. Finish with a light seasoning of sea salt and ground black pepper to taste, and serve immediately.
Notes
- Use fresh, high-quality ingredients for the best flavor, especially the mozzarella and olive oil.
- For a richer flavor, consider using heirloom tomatoes instead of Roma.
- You can prepare the bread and tomato slices ahead of time to speed up assembly.
- Serve immediately after baking to enjoy the mozzarella warm and melty.
- This recipe can be doubled or halved easily depending on the number of guests.
Find it online: https://recipesbyliza.com/baked-caprese-crostini-recipe/
