Crostini (meaning “little crusts” in Italian; singular crostino) are an Italian appetizer consisting of small slices of grilled or toasted bread and toppings. The toppings may include a variety of different cheeses, meats, vegetables and condiments, or may be presented more simply with a brush of olive oil and herbs or a sauce.
Along with bruschetta, crostini are thought to originate in medieval times when it was typical for peasants to eat their meals on slices of bread instead of using ceramics.
Chopped ramps add crunch and bite to pristine, fluffy ricotta which is smeared over crostini and topped with a jumble of sweet pea shoots. This simple recipe highlights the freshest ingredients and the contrasting nice and naughty flavors of springtime. If you can’t locate ramps in your market, then try substituting spring onions.
Serves 8
- 8 – 1/2″ thick slices baguette
- extra-virgin olive oil
- 1/2 cup fresh whole milk ricotta
- sea salt
- freshly ground black pepper
- 1/4 cup finely chopped ramps or green garlic, bulbs and stems only (or substitute with the bulb and pale green parts of spring onions)
- 1 tablespoon finely chopped mint leaves
- 1/2 teaspoon finely grated lemon zest
- generous handful pea shoots
- 1/2 lemon
- Preheat oven to 400 F. Lightly brush baguette slices with olive oil. Arrange on baking sheet. Bake in oven until golden brown on both sides, turning once, 12 to 15 minutes. Remove.
- Combine ricotta, 1 tablespoon oil, 1/2 teaspoons salt and black pepper in a bowl; mix well until light and fluffy. Stir in ramps, mint and lemon zest. Spread ricotta on baguette slices.
- Top crostini with a generous pinch of pea shoots. Drizzle a little olive oil over crostini, followed by a squeeze of lemon juice. Sprinkle with a few grains of sea salt and black pepper.
