Mushroom Crostini with Herbs and Garlic

This crostini recipe with fresh mushrooms, herbs and garlic makes a great healthy appetizer. The mushroom crotini have incredible flavour! They’re easy to make and will impress your guests. *Update: This crostini recipe is the WINNER of the FBC2015 Appetizer Spotlight Contest with Food Bloggers of Canada and Mushrooms Canada!   When you’re trying to eat a healthy diet and the appetizer platter comes around, it can be especially difficult. Made to maximize flavour in one or two bites, most appetizers are deep fried or they’re made with high-fat cheese or meat and not much else. Making your own appetizers allows you to control the amount of fat and calories and to choose healthier and fresher ingredients to maximize the flavour in each bite. These Mushroom Crostini with Herbs and Garlic are a great, healthy appetizer idea and they’re absolutely bursting with flavour! Gorgeous fresh Canadian Crimini mushrooms are the star of this show in this crostini recipe. The mushrooms are sauteed in aromatic thyme and white wine and served on slices of toasted whole grain baguette slathered in a low-fat herb and garlic cream cheese spread.

Mushrooms Used For this Crostini Recipe

Crimini mushrooms are deeper and nuttier in flavour than typical white mushrooms and they pair perfectly with the bright flavours of the herbs and the creaminess of the cheese. This is the perfect crostini recipe for any home chef: simple, healthy, and fresh ingredients that speak for themselves. I think you’re going to love it!

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Crostini Recipe Ingredients

For the Cream Cheese Spread:

• 4 oz low-fat cream cheese (use high-fat if you prefer), softened to room temperature
• 1 clove of garlic, finely grated
• a pinch of sea salt
• a pinch of pepper
• 1/4 tsp dried basil
• 1/2 tsp dried thyme

approximately 1/2 whole grain baguette (about 16 thin slices) For the Mushrooms:

• 220g Canadian crimini mushrooms, thinly sliced
• 2 tsp olive oil
• 1/2 tsp dried thyme
• 1/4 cup white wine
• a pinch of sea salt
• a pinch of pepper

fresh chives for garnish

How to Make the Mushroom Crostini Recipe

Preheat your oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit and prepare a baking sheet with some parchment paper. (I love these pre-cut parchment paper sheets.) Slice the 1/2 baguette into 16 thin slices and arrange them on the baking sheet. Once the oven is preheated, toast the baguette slices for about 5-7 minutes or until they’ve reached a light golden brown colour. Every oven is different, so it’s best to watch them carefully. Place the cream cheese in a medium bowl and add the basil, thyme, sea salt and pepper. Using a microplaze zester (or a very fine grater), grate the clove of garlic into the bowl.     Mix the ingredients together very well using a spoon or a rubber spatula. Be sure all the ingredients are combined well before setting the cream cheese mixture aside. Set a large skillet over medium high heat. When the pan is hot, add the olive oil, the mushrooms, the salt and pepper, and the thyme. Saute the mushrooms in the oil and spices for a few minutes just until they begin to soften slightly and release some of their juices. Turn the heat down to medium low and add the wine. Cover the pan and let the mushrooms cook in the wine for several minutes, until they’ve softened completely and turned a rich, dark brown colour. Remove the toasted baguette slices from the oven, spread a generous dollop of the cream cheese mixture on each slice and top with several pieces of the sauteed mushrooms warm from the pan. Garnish with a few fresh chives, and serve!     Don’t those mushrooms look divine and, dare I say, meaty??   I hope you enjoy this crostini recipe! The Canadian Crimini mushrooms really are the star of the show. If you want to learn more about Canadian Mushrooms, head on over to www.mushrooms.ca for recipes, cooking tips and inspiration!

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