Tasty gifts of the holiday season usually include a grand appetizer platter filled with dips, spreads, and classic finger foods essential for entertaining a crowd at home or at a party. This holiday season entertain guests or your very own palette with this creamy French inspired appetizer and refreshing wine pairing from SIMI Winery.
Created by SIMI Winery’s Chef Eric Lee, this recipe highlights everything a holiday appetizer is supposed to be. Simple, smile inducing and deliciously French. Oui Oui. A flavor combination of goat cheese smeared on top of a toasted sliced baguette and topped with apple slices, crystallized ginger pistachios and some syrup. But the best part about this French inspired recipe, is the perfect pairing of SIMI Winery Sonoma County Sauvignon Blanc.
Created with fresh appealing citrus notes of lime zest, pink grapefruit, and fresh lemon grass from the fruit of Sonoma County’s Alexander Valley. A refreshing, and crisp Sauvignon Blanc like SIMI Winery’s is a must for goat cheese pairing as the two are well known for being edible best friends.
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- Total Time: 25 minutes
- Yield: Serves 4
Description
This French-inspired appetizer features creamy goat cheese on toasted baguette slices, topped with apple, pistachios, and crystallized ginger, finished with a drizzle of tea syrup.
Ingredients
- 1 French baguette, cut diagonally into 1/2-inch slices
- Olive oil, for brushing
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- 8 ounces fresh goat cheese
- 1/2 Granny Smith apple, peeled and cut into small dice
- 4 tablespoons chopped toasted pistachios
- 2 tablespoons crystallized ginger, finely chopped
- 1/4 cup sugar
- 1/4 cup water
- 1 tea bag (black or herbal tea of choice)
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Arrange the baguette slices on a baking sheet and brush lightly with olive oil. Season with salt and pepper. Toast in the oven for 8-10 minutes, or until golden brown and crisp. Remove from oven and let cool.
- In a small saucepan, combine the sugar and water. Bring to a boil over medium heat, stirring until the sugar dissolves. Remove from heat and add the tea bag. Steep for 3 minutes, then remove the tea bag and let the syrup cool.
- Spread a generous amount of goat cheese on each toasted baguette slice.
- Top with diced apple, chopped pistachios, and crystallized ginger.
- Drizzle the cooled tea syrup over the assembled crostini just before serving.
Notes
Pair with SIMI Winery Sonoma County Sauvignon Blanc for a perfect match. If you don’t have crystallized ginger, you can substitute with a small amount of fresh ginger for a spicier kick. Store any leftover syrup in the refrigerator for up to a week. These crostini are best served fresh, but you can prepare the components ahead of time and assemble just before serving.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Appetizer
- Cuisine: French
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 250
- Sugar: 10
- Sodium: 250
- Fat: 12
- Carbohydrates: 30
- Fiber: 2
- Protein: 8
- Cholesterol: 20
In the unfortunate case that Sauvignon Blanc is not a favorite , SIMI Winery has more excellent wines for you to choose from. Click here to take a peruse through their website
Frequently Asked Questions
What type of baguette should I use for this recipe?
Use a fresh, crusty French baguette to achieve the ideal texture for toasting and pairing with goat cheese.
How should I prepare the apple slices for the appetizer?
Core and thinly slice the apples just before serving to maintain their freshness and crispness.
Is there an alternative to crystallized ginger for this recipe?
If crystallized ginger isn’t available, you can substitute it with finely chopped candied ginger or omit it for a simpler flavor profile.
