Description
Creamy sweet and spicy whipped feta crostini dances with zesty hot honey, creating an irresistible Mediterranean-inspired appetizer. Crisp toasted bread and silky cheese blend perfectly, delivering a complex flavor profile that will delight guests at any gathering.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 200 grams (7 ounces) feta cheese, crumbled
- 100 grams (½ cup) cream cheese, softened
- 1 baguette, sliced into ½-inch rounds
Liquid and Seasoning Ingredients:
- 4 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- ¼ cup honey
- ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
Garnish Ingredients:
- Fresh herbs (thyme or parsley)
- Crushed pistachios or walnuts (optional)
Instructions
- Transform baguette slices into crisp, golden platforms by arranging them on a baking sheet and applying a light olive oil coating. Roast in a preheated 375F (190C) oven, rotating midway through, until edges turn deliciously crunchy and surfaces achieve a warm amber hue.
- Create a luxuriously smooth feta mixture by combining feta cheese, cream cheese, olive oil, lemon juice, and black pepper in a food processor. Blend until the texture becomes velvety and uniform, ensuring no lumps remain.
- Craft a zesty infusion by gently warming honey with red pepper flakes in a small saucepan. Allow the spicy essence to permeate the liquid, developing a complex, tingling flavor profile through subtle heat and occasional stirring.
- Construct individual crostini by lavishly spreading the whipped feta across each toasted baguette slice, ensuring complete coverage that peaks and swirls elegantly across the crisp surface.
- Elevate the presentation by drizzling the spicy honey in delicate zigzag patterns over the feta-topped crostini, creating visual intrigue and promising a burst of sweet-heat sensation.
- Complete the culinary composition by scattering fresh herbs and crushed nuts across the top, introducing contrasting textures and aromatic dimensions that complement the creamy base and fiery undertones.
Notes
- Perfectly toasted crostini requires watching closely to prevent burning, ensuring a golden-brown color and crisp texture that provides ideal crunch for the whipped feta.
- Whipped feta smoothness depends on room temperature ingredients and blending long enough to create a silky, spreadable consistency without over-processing.
- Hot honey can be customized by adjusting red pepper flake quantity for those preferring milder or more intense spice levels, allowing personalization of heat.
- Dairy-free alternatives work well by substituting vegan feta and cream cheese options, making this appetizer adaptable for plant-based dietary needs while maintaining delicious flavor profile.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Appetizer, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Mediterranean
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 250
- Sugar: 6 g
- Sodium: 500 mg
- Fat: 18 g
- Saturated Fat: 6 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 20 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 7 g
- Cholesterol: 30 mg