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Wednesday, April 28, 2010

Amazing Chevre Crostini

I was at Food Pyramid yesterday and espied a variety of goat cheeses.   I settled for Ile de France’s Le Chèvre. This cheese is made from the rich milk of grass-fed goats grazing in the Rhône Alps. It rated highest in overall quality in the 2008 ChefBest Awards for its texture, flavor intensity and aroma.  Its natural sour, salty and sweet notes make it wonderfully unique.

I enjoyed it in pasta and mixed greens salad but it is fantastic too as an appetizer.  With such a superior ingredient, I asked myself--what is the best way to use it? My principle has always been: simple is best --enhance it...don't mask or overwhelm the flavour.  I decided to make Ile de France’s Le Chèvre the star!  My Chevre Crostini has three basic ingredients: Ile de France® Le Chèvre, Thai basil leaves and smoked paprika oil.  Chevre Crostini is one of the deceptively simple but very delectable appetizers I’ve made--- the flavor combination is amazing!!

Ingredients:

4 baguette slices or 2 slices honey whole wheat bread, cut into 4 pieces
Ile de France® Le Chèvre
a sprig of Thai basil, finely slivered
smoked Spanish paprika oil*

Lightly brush the baguette slices or wheat bread with oil and lightly toast them on a hot grill pan for a minute on both sides.  Spread goat cheese on each toast.  Add finely slivered Thai basil (this imparts a delicious licorice note) and drizzle with smoke Spanish paprika oil.  Serve and enjoy these goat cheese crostini!


*Smoked paprika oil is made by heating 1/2 c canola oil in a pot, adding smoked Spanish paprika to it and turning off the heat so the paprika does not burn. It is important to use the best quality Spanish paprika you can get.  The one I used is the best paprika there is!!!  It’s from The Spice House, a mom and pop Chicago operation by Tom and Patty Erd.

10 comments:

Penny said...

When you have the best ingredients, keeping it simple is a good idea. This looks wonderful.

Sam Hoffer / My Carolina Kitchen said...

I love chevre crostini and make it often. I'll be trying your recipe soon.
Sam

Biren said...

These crostinis look and sound delicious. Superior ingredients require very little cooking.

BTW, thanks for visiting my blog and leaving a comment.

Sharlene T. said...

Yummy! Looks delicious...

zerrin said...

These look like great snacks. They may be wonderful at big Sunday breakfasts too.

Chef Dennis Littley said...

I love chevre.....what a great presentation!

Food Gal said...

A perfect lunch that's a little bit decadent and luxurious. ;)

RachelD said...

Thank you so much for dropping in at Lawn Tea!!! I enjoyed my small dip into your pages, as well, especially your descriptions of those marvelous crackers.

I hope you'll come back to visit, and I certainly intend to visit here often.

Mimi said...

Tasty way to enjoy chevre.
Mimi

Gwen said...

I could literally live off of goat cheese! Yum! this looks deeeelicious! ;-) will be having soon. thx!