Name: Healthy Ricotta Crostini
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 20 min
Ingredients: 8 slices Pepperidge Farm Harvest Blend Breads ((we used Seeded blend)); 1/2 cup olive oil; 8 oz roasted red peppers ((capisum) in olive oil (reserve the olive oil to make pesto and brush on crostini breads)); 2 cloves garlic; 1 red onion (medium sliced into rings); basil ( optional for garnish); 1 cup parsley - (1 small bunch); 2 tbsp lemon zest; 1 clove garlic; 8 oz ricotta cheese

Healthy Ricotta Crostini are the World's Easiest Appetizer

You are going to love how beautiful these little appetizers are going to look on your serving tray with a splash of green, orange-red and white. With all of the spring time weddings, showers, graduation and parties you are going to need some quick and easy appetizers to save the day.

The Italian ricotta and red pepper pesto crostini was a huge hit. We used Pepperidge Farm Harvest Blends seeded grain bread. The seeds in the bread and on the crust made it crunchy and delicious, especially when toasted in the oven. The creamy ricotta topping with the garlic infused roasted red peppers and caramalized onions is going to rock your world.

Healthy Ricotta Crostini / https://www.hwcmagazine.com

The Italian ricotta and gremolata topping with lots of fresh lemon zest and parsley was refreshing and delightful and a nice contrast to the rich Italian ricotta and red pepper pesto crostini. Gremolata is a chopped herbed condiment usually made with parsley, lemon zest and garlic.

We enjoyed three delicious breads from Pepperidge Farm. They were the Harvest Blends Seeded, Sprouted and Ancient grain breads. All three breads had a strong wheat flavor balanced out with a touch of sweetness. However, our favorite was the Harvest Blend Seeded bread as loved all of the sunflower seeds, flax seeds, sesame seeds on the crust and in the bread. We love that little crunch. These products have limited availability and are currently only available in the Midwest at your local grocer.

The seeded bread was the heartiest of the three according to my boys. As you can see from my photo the word "Try" not to eat is not strong enough language when trying to deter hungry teenage boys from fresh bread sitting on the counter.

Thank goodness I was able to tear from their strong grasps the last few slices of the Harvest Blends Seeded bread to make these delicious healthy ricotta crostinis. We decided to cut the breads into rustic smaller circles so that they are easier to pick up one handed with a glass of red wine in the other. You do not have to go through the bother of cutting your crostini breads into rustic circles but I would suggest that you at least cut into either 2 or 4 triangles so that they are easier to pick up as a tapas instead of one full slice of bread.

The best part about making these quick and easy healthy ricotta crostini is that you can do all the prep in advance. You can make the red pepper pesto and gremolata up to 24 hours in advance and then all you need to do is toast your breads and pile on the toppings and serve. In addition, I highly suggest you make extra gremolata and red pepper pesto as it is delicious on pasta, grilled meats and many others and your meal planning is done for the week.

This post is sponsored by Pepperidge Farm® in conjunction with Blog Meets Brand and I have been compensated for my participation. All opinions are our own.

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