What if I told you that appetizer nirvana was only seven ingredients and about half an hour away? Well, you can definitely get excited, because with my Red Pepper Crostini Topping, it is. Like all my Easy Appetizer Recipes, Red Pepper Crostini Topping is really easy to make.
My Red Pepper Crostini recipe is also amazingly versatile. You can make it with any colour peppers you have on hand – or a mixture of two or three. The only reason I call this recipe Red Pepper Crostini is that this is what is was called when I learned how to make it at an Italian cooking class using all red peppers a number of years ago. However, red, yellow and/or orange peppers all work well. I tend to avoid green peppers because for some reason the green peppers here in the UK seem to be very bitter.
You can use this tangle of gently cooked, flavourful peppers to make crostini, but the recipe has all sorts of other delicious uses as well. (More on that a bit later.)
How To Make The Red Pepper Crostini Topping
This recipe does require a little light chopping and gentle stirring, However, like Nigella Lawson, I find a bit of chopping and stirring intensely therapeutic, especially when there’s chaos going on around me (as there often is). Sometimes I chop the peppers up the day before and keep them covered in the fridge. You can also make the whole recipe a day ahead of time if you prefer as it will sit quite happily in the fridge for 24 hours.
You Get Out What You Put In
Like many simple recipes, the quality of the ingredients you use is paramount here. Ripe, firm peppers work best and you need a good balsamic vinegar. Although it’s more expensive, an authentic artisanal balsamic vinegar that has been aged for at least 12 years has a much better flavour. A bottle lasts me ages so, like a good wine, I consider it worth the investment. Not that good wine lasts ages in our house – that tends to disappear much more quickly!
How To Make Red Pepper Crostini
This topping does make amazing crostini. To make the base part of the crostini, all you have to do is brush a banking sheet with olive oil, sprinkle with salt and pepper and top with quarter inch slices of your favourite bread. French bread or ciabatta are traditional but artisanal loaves and sourdough work really well too. Brush the tops of the slices with more olive oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Place in an oven that has been preheated to 350°F (170°C) and don’t take your eyes off it for a second. Cook the bread slices until golden brown, turning once, for about 5 minutes each side. You can then simply top the cooked slices of bread with the Red Pepper Crostini Topping, garnish with parsley and serve.
Is Red Pepper Crostini Topping Gluten Free?
The red pepper crostini topping is naturally gluten free. However you must serve the topping on gluten free bread or crackers to ensure the Red Pepper Crostini Appetisers are gluten free. The recipe is also vegan.
Other Ways To Serve Red Pepper Crostini Topping
You can serve Red Pepper Crostini Topping in a bowl, alongside lots of other little dips and salads, as part of a meze starter. It’s best served warm or at room temperature. If you’ve made it 24 hours ahead, you can simply heat it gently to rewarm. I also like Red Pepper Crostini Topping on leftover nan bread, topped with cheese and grilled to make a Nan Bread Pizza or even on toast, similarly topped with cheese and grilled to make an open faced sandwich that tastes simply divine. I even serve it on healthy crackers or crisp breads.
It’s the sort of thing I keep in my fridge a lot of the time as it really does come in handy, although it is at its best within 24 to 48 hours of making. Red Pepper Crostini Topping is a great appetiser recipe for year round entertaining.
Red Pepper Crostini Topping – Printable Recipe
Red Pepper Crostini Topping
Ingredients
- 3 tablespoons mild olive oil
- 1 red onion, peeled, cut in half and finely sliced
- 4 red peppers, de-seeded and finely sliced You can use assorted peppers in colours of your choice.
- 2 garlic cloves, peeled and grated or finely chopped You can use 2 teaspoons Very Lazy Chopped Garlic or frozen chopped garlic instead
- 2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
- 1 tablespoon flat leaf parsley, finely chopped You can use dried parsley if fresh is unavailable.
- salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Heat the oil in a large frying pan over medium heat.
- Sauté the onion for two to three minutes until it begins to soften.
- Add the sliced peppers and cook for ten minutes, stirring occasionally, until just softened.
- Add the garlic, capers (if using) and vinegar.
- Simmer gently for a few minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Taste carefully (it will be very hot!) and add salt and pepper to taste.
- Transfer the mixture to a serving dish and allow to cool for at least 5 minutes before serving. You can also cool completely to room temperature. Either way, garnish with the chopped parsley just before serving.
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More Appetizer Recipes
Salad Frisée aux Lardons – An Easy French Appetizer
Shrimp and Crab Appetizer Salad Recipe
Braised Pea Broad Bean and Artichoke Dip
Comments & Reviews
Winnie says
This is not fair! I’ve already had my dinner, and looking at these photos (and reading the recipe), and I’m hungry again !!
I LOVE it
April Harris says
Thank you so much, Winnie 🙂
peter @feedyoursoultoo says
I love working with peppers. This looks really tasty.
April Harris says
Me too, Peter, they are so fresh and delicious! Thank you 🙂
Florian @ContentednessCooking says
This is a really tasty and so easy to make recipe! Perfect to get a lovely recipe from scratch, yum!
April Harris says
Thank you so much, Florian 🙂
Patty Haxton Anderson says
This is a classic combination and it is perfect for crostini!
April Harris says
Thank you, Patty!
Angela says
April what a great simple appetizer! I love setting up a build your own crostini spot on the table and this would be a perfect addition!
April Harris says
Thank you, Angela! Love the idea of a build your own crostini bar – that sounds fantastic!
Erica (@Erica's Recipes) says
Lordy lordy yum. This sounds delicious April! Elegant and easy too, love it.
April Harris says
Thank you so much, Erica!
Hadia says
The red pepper crostini looks so flavorful, April!
April Harris says
Thank you, Hadia 🙂
Gaye @CalmHealthySexy says
Hi April – Oh, this looks so delicious! Thanks so much for sharing with the Let’s Get Real Party.
April Harris says
Thank you, Gaye, and thank you for hosting too!
Julie says
Hi April, this looks and sounds so good.
Thanks for sharing this recipe with us at Cooking and Crafting with J & J.
Enjoy the week.
Julie xo
April Harris says
Thank you so much, Julie. I hope you are having a lovely week too!
christine says
Oh man, I would eat this all day!
April Harris says
Thank you, Christine, it is pretty addictive 🙂
Nicole says
Versatile is definitely a perfect word for these gorgeous sounding peppers! I’d love to use these in so many different meals!
April Harris says
Thank you, Nicole!
nancy@skinnykitchen.com says
What a fabulous appetizer!
April Harris says
Thank you, Nancy 🙂
Jess says
Simple AND delicious…I love it!
Thanks for joining Cooking and Crafting with J & J!
April Harris says
Thank you, Jess, and thank you for hosting too!
swathis says
Delicious Love this topping.
April Harris says
Thank you, Swathi 🙂
Linda (Meal Planning Maven) says
April, your red pepper crostini look so flavorful and I love that it’s healthy too! I can think of so many fun and delicious ways to use the topping…especially with chicken, beef or fish!
April Harris says
Thank you, Linda! It really is incredibly versatile 🙂
Quinn Caudill says
My kind of appetizer, easy, simple and full of flavor. Thanks for sharing with us at #Throwback Thursday. Pinned. Hope to see you again next week. Quinn
April Harris says
Thank you, Quinn 🙂
Miz Helen says
Hi April,
I love the addition of the capers in this recipe, it will have such a special flavor. Thanks so much for sharing your post with us at Full Plate Thursday and have a great day.
Come Back Soon!
Miz Helen
April Harris says
Thank you, Miz Helen 🙂 I hope you are enjoying the holiday season.
Pamela Graham says
A great addition to my summer salads repertoire, something different and so easy with stuff already in the fridge! Thanks April
Pamela
http://www.style-yourself-confident.com
April Harris says
Thank you, Pamela!
Liz says
Yum! I have lots of peppers left over and being vegan always love a new recipe for lunch
April Harris says
I hope you enjoy, Liz! This really is such a versatile recipe and it keeps so well in the fridge. I’m can’t remember if I mentioned in the post, but try grating a little vegan cheese over the top if you fancy switching things up a bit 🙂