Crostini with marinated tomatoes and whipped feta

Crisp crostini topped with herb whipped feta and juicy marinated tomatoes is a delicious summer appetizer or easy, make-ahead lunch.

Ingredients

• Ciabatta
• Cherry tomatoes
• Olive oil
• Chilli. I used a whole fresh chilli but you can use chilli flakes too.
• Garlic.
• Herbs. I used bay leaf, rosemary and thyme for the tomatoes, parsley and oregano for the feta.
• Salt and pepper.
• Feta cheese.
• Cream.
• Lemon juice.

How to make marinated tomatoes

1. Prepare the cherry tomatoes: Cut a small cross at the base of each tomato. Bring a large pot of water to a boil then add the tomatoes and simmer for 1-2 minutes.  Prepare a bowl of ice water and once the skins on the tomatoes start to shrivel, remove them from the boiling water with a slotted spoon and place into the bowl of ice water. The skins will start to slip off and you can easily remove them. Discard the skins and place the tomatoes in a large jar along with your preferred herbs, garlic and chilli.
2. Make the marinade: Combine olive oil, salt and pepper and mix well. Pour the marinade over the tomatoes. Seal the jar and gently tilt to cover the tomatoes in marinade. Allow to marinade for at least 30 minutes. These tomatoes can be kept in the fridge for up to a week. Tilt and swirl the jar around every few days to make sure all the tomatoes have time in the marinade.

How to make crostini

1. Make the whipped feta: Combine feta cheese, cream, lemon juice, herbs, salt and pepper in the bowl of a food processor. Mix until the cheese is relatively smooth and creamy.
2. How to toast crostini: Slice Ciabatta into slices then brush with olive oil. Toast in a hot pan until golden on both sides. Alternatively you can broil them in the oven as well for a few minutes per side.
3. Assemble: Top each crostini with a generous dollop of whipped feta and spread over the surface of the bread. Add a few marinated tomatoes and drizzle over a little of the marinade. Garnish with fresh basil and flaky sea salt before serving.

Easy appetizer recipes

1. Cheese and corn samosas
2. Grilled tomato caprese salad
3. Crispy fried mozzarella

Crostini with marinated tomatoes and whipped feta

Crisp crostini topped with herb whipped feta and juicy marinated tomatoes is a delicious summer appetizer or easy, make-ahead lunch.

4.50 from 4 votes

Print Pin Rate

Course: Appetizer

Cuisine: Italian

Keyword: Crostini, Crostini bread, Crostini recipe

Prep Time: 20 minutes

Cook Time: 10 minutes

Marinating time: 30 minutes

Total Time: 1 hour

Servings: 6

Calories: 198kcal

Author: Alida Ryder

Ingredients

For the marinated tomatoes

• 500 g (1lb) cherry tomatoes
• 1 bay leaf
• 1 sprig fresh rosemary
• 6 sprigs fresh thyme
• 1 red chilli halve lengthwise (alternatively use ½tsp chilli flakes)
• 1 garlic cloves thinly sliced
• 1/3 cup olive oil
• 1 tsp salt
• 1 tsp pepper

For the whipped feta

• ½ cup feta cheese
• ¾ cup cream
• 1 tsp lemon juice
• 2 tbsp parsley roughly chopped
• ½ tsp oregano
• salt and pepper to taste

For the crostini

• sliced ciabatta bread
• olive oil for brushing
• fresh basil leaves

Instructions

• Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Cut a small cross at the base of each tomato then add to the boiling water and simmer for 1-2 minutes. 
• Prepare a bowl of ice water and once the skins on the tomatoes start to shrivel, remove them from the boiling water with a slotted spoon and place into the bowl of ice water.
• The skins will start to slip off and you can easily remove them. Discard the skins and place the tomatoes in a large jar along with your preferred herbs, garlic and chilli.
• Combine olive oil, salt and pepper and mix well. Pour the marinade over the tomatoes. Seal the jar and gently tilt to cover the tomatoes in marinade. Allow to marinade for at least 30 minutes.
• To make the whipped feta, combine feta cheese, cream, lemon juice, herbs, salt and pepper in the bowl of a food processor. Mix until the cheese is relatively smooth and creamy. 
• Slice Ciabatta into slices then brush with olive oil. Toast in a hot pan until golden on both sides.
• Top each crostini with a generous dollop of whipped feta and spread over the surface of the bread. Add a few marinated tomatoes and drizzle over a little of the marinade. Garnish with fresh basil and flaky sea salt before serving.

Nutrition

Calories: 198kcal | Carbohydrates: 15g | Protein: 5g | Fat: 14g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Cholesterol: 23mg | Sodium: 521mg | Potassium: 259mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 864IU | Vitamin C: 34mg | Calcium: 81mg | Iron: 1mg