Who doesn't like Italian food? I have always had a love for Italian food, and it has only gotten stronger as I have developed my culinary skills. I love to make a classic bruschetta with tomato and basil. But for this dish, I decided to take a unique approach to this classic Italian appetizer. It is not yet tomato season here in Ohio; however, strawberries are in season. Nothing compares to locally grown, freshly picked strawberries. Fresh berries can add lots of color and look so stunning just on their own. It does not take much to make beautiful berries shine. This dish is so deliciously sweet, you might even consider serving it for dessert!
Strawberry Bruschetta
Serves: 8-10 Cook Time: 15 min Prep Time: 10 min
- 1 Quart Strawberries, sliced
- 1/3 Cup Sugar
- 1 1/2 Teaspoons Balsamic Vinegar, plus extra for drizzling
- 2 Cups Ricotta, preferably homemade
- 4 Tablespoons Heavy Cream
- 3 Tablespoons Honey
- 1 French Baguette, sliced 1/4" on bias
- 1/3 Cup Extra Virgin Olive Oil
- Salt and Pepper to taste
- 1/4 Cup Fresh Basil, Chiffonaded
Directions
Mix the strawberries with the sugar and balsamic. Set aside. Place ricotta, heavy cream and honey in bowl of mixer. Using the paddle attachment, mix until all ingredients are combined. Set aside. Place baguette slices on a cookie sheet. Brush lightly with extra virgin olive oil and season with salt and pepper. Broil for 2-3 minutes or until golden brown around the edges. Let cool. To assemble: spread ricotta mix over baguette slices, add strawberry slices, drizzle with balsamic and garnish with fresh basil. Enjoy!
Tip- The fewer the ingredients, the more important they become. When you are making something like bruschetta or grilled cheese it is really important to buy quality ingredients. This is because all of them will be in the spotlight. That is why in this recipe I used local strawberries, homemade ricotta and a high quality aged balsamic vinegar. This really allows the dish to reach its maximum potential. Your guests will definitely appreciate it.
Tip- Adjusting the sweetness of berries requires that you first taste the fruit before adding sugar. Some fruit is super sweet and may need little to none. The berries I used for this dish were slightly sour so I added additional sugar to balance it out. Each batch of berries is different, so while you may need to add sugar, there is a chance you will not. Which is why it is important to taste the fruit before you make this dish.
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| My favorite balsamic |
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| The star ingredients |
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| Strawberry topping |
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| Ricotta spread |
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| The final assembled product |
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