Description
Irresistible honey ricotta peach crostini with crispy pancetta brings Italian summer flavors to appetizer perfection. Rustic bread, creamy ricotta, sweet peaches, and salty pancetta create a delightful bite you cannot resist.
Ingredients
Scale
- 6 slices pancetta
- 2 ripe peaches, thinly sliced
- 1 baguette, sliced into ½-inch thick pieces
- 1 cup (240 ml/8 fl oz) ricotta cheese
- 2 tbsps (30 ml/1 fl oz) honey
- 1 tbsp (15 ml/0.5 fl oz) fresh lemon juice
- Fresh thyme or basil leaves
- Olive oil
- Salt
- Black pepper
- Additional honey (for drizzling)
Instructions
- Prepare Baguette: Toast olive oil-brushed baguette slices in a 400F (200C) oven until edges turn golden and crisp, achieving a delicate bronze hue in 8-10 minutes.
- Render Pancetta: Sizzle pancetta in a skillet over medium heat until crisp and caramelized, then drain on paper towels to remove excess fat.
- Season Ricotta: Whisk ricotta with citrus zest and seasonings, creating a smooth, flavorful base that provides a creamy foundation for the crostini.
- Assemble Crostini: Spread seasoned ricotta on toasted baguette slices, then artfully arrange peach segments to create a vibrant and textural masterpiece.
- Finish and Garnish: Sprinkle crispy pancetta crumbles over the crostini, drizzle with honey, and garnish with fresh thyme or basil leaves to elevate the sensory experience.
- Serve: Present immediately to maintain the perfect balance of crisp, creamy, and juicy elements, ensuring a delightful appetizer that tantalizes the palate.
Notes
- Optimize Bread Toasting: Ensure baguette slices are uniformly thick and evenly coated with olive oil to achieve consistent golden-brown crispness without burning.
- Manage Pancetta Crispness: Control skillet heat carefully to render fat completely while preventing burning, creating perfect crispy texture without becoming tough or bitter.
- Balance Ricotta Flavor: Experiment with lemon zest, cracked black pepper, or fresh herbs to elevate the ricotta’s base flavor and complement the sweet peaches.
- Temperature Strategy: Serve crostini immediately after assembly to maintain textural contrast between crisp bread, creamy cheese, and juicy peach segments.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Appetizer, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 7
- Calories: 270
- Sugar: 10 g
- Sodium: 300 mg
- Fat: 12 g
- Saturated Fat: 4 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 7 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 34 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 8 g
- Cholesterol: 20 mg