There is a distinct possibility that I will turn into a chunk of feta cheese before this week’s out. Yes, my serious feta cheese addiction has grabbed ahold of me with a vengeance since Mr. Scrummy and I arrived in Greece for a little visit last week. It doesn’t help that there are at least 10 varieties in even the smallest local supermarket and that you can buy big tubs of it for pretty much the same price as a tiddly little package back at home.
So what’s a girl to do but try to find a way to channel her ‘little problem’ into something lovely for today’s post? And this pear, feta & walnut crostini is what I came up with …
The inspiration for this, as for the roasted red pepper & eggplant dip in my last post, came from last week’s local market trip. As well as scooping up piles of huge ripe tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers and olives for our daily (well, OK, twice daily) Greek salads, we also couldn’t resist grabbing a few of these cute little rosy pears. The idea of using them for a topping on a crostini came to me as I took a look around our kitchen here and was reminded of the lack of baking dishes, equipment and appliances. I realised that I would probably have to keep what I make on the simpler side while we’re over here … not that this is any kind of hardship! The fresh ingredients I picked up don’t really need, after all, a whole lot doing to them to make them shine.
Feta cheese and fruit and feta cheese and honey are tried and tested combinations, so I was pretty sure that combining ripe slices of pear with feta cheese and honey would go down a treat! I’ve also seen walnuts thrown into a salad with pears and cheese before, so walnuts got added to my crostini, as well. As did a little touch of fresh mint which I thought would add a welcome hint of colour and ‘oomph’ to the final taste.
The resulting crostini made a very satisfying late morning snack for myself and Mr. Scrummy. Very satisfying indeed. Just imagine those juicy, ripe pears contrasting with the sourness of the cheese, the crunchy earthiness of the walnuts, the sweet hit of honey and the touch of freshness from the chopped mint leaves. Am I making you hungry for a little snack yet?
Before piling on my toppings, I prepared my crostini bread in the traditional Italian way (and who can argue with that?) by toasting it on both sides under the grill and then rubbing it briefly with a clove of garlic and drizzling it with good quality olive oil. Then all I did was lay a slice of feta and slices of pear on each piece of toast before drizzling with honey and scattering over walnut pieces and shredded bits of fresh mint. The crostini looked very pretty like this for serving, but to be honest when I ate it I ended up breaking up the slice of feta and scattering it all over the crostini rather than keeping it at one end. If you prefer the sound of getting a bit of everything in each bite, then simply crumble up your feta and scatter your toppings a bit more haphazardly over the toast than you see in these pictures of mine.
Mmm … divine. Honey is sometimes known as the food of the gods, but I’m going to stick my neck out here and say that this is the crostini of the gods! Enjoy!
Pear, feta & walnut crostini
Ingredients (UK/Australia? Click below for grams/ml)
- slices of fresh crusty bread e.g. ciabatta
- 1 garlic clove peeled and chopped in half
- good quality extra virgin olive oil
- thin -ish slices of feta cheese
- 1 or 2 pears chopped in half, cored and sliced into thin slices
- honey to drizzle
- walnuts broken roughly into pieces
- fresh mint chopped into thin shreds
Instructions
- Toast the bread on both sides under a grill. Then rub over briefly with the cut side of the garlic and drizzle with the olive oil.
- Now top each piece of toast with a slice of feta and 4 or 5 of the pear slices. Drizzle with honey, then scatter over the walnut pieces and mint. Serve while the toast is still warm.
Notes
Nutrition
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Carol says
Thank you for this recipe! Reminds me of an appetizer I had at a wonderful cafe on Manly Beach in Sydney. Can’t wait to make it at here at home in Wisconsin. So delicious!!
Helen says
Hello Carol. I’m so happy you found this recipe – how lovely that it took you back to a great food experience! Now you’ve reminded me to make these again some time soon too! 🙂
marcie says
This is such a delicious combination, Helen, and I could totally make a meal out of this! 🙂
Helen says
Hi, Marcie! Now you’ve just given me a great idea … make these for dinner one day!!
Jessica @ Jessica in the Kitchen says
Oh Helen these look perfect! I love the simplicity of it which to me always guarantees that it’ll taste amazing. I’m also (as you know) obsessed with feta!! Love the layering!
Helen says
Hi Jess! Thank you so much! This is one of my favourite recent recipes. These tasted so good!
Izzy says
Haha, I think I may turn into a chunk of feta with you, Helen!! I might turn into a crostini one of these days! I love all the flavors going on in here! Such a perfect combo 🙂
Helen says
Oh, great! So happy we’re going to be 2 chunks of feta together! 🙂
Denise | Sweet Peas & Saffron says
I need to go to Greece because I want to become a cube of feta, too! This looks delicious, and I love the mild flavors of pear and walnut with the bold feta. Looks divine!
Helen says
Oh, I’m so happy there’s going to be a little group of feta cubes around here … not just me! I guess you’re right that the mild flavours here contrast nicely with the stronger feta! 🙂
Ami@NaiveCookCooks says
Helen I love crostinis which are fruit based and then you add cheese and honey!! Just yumm and I love that you added walnuts too!
Helen says
Hello, Ami … so glad you like these cute and tasty little snacks!
Shashi at RunninSrilankan says
Oh I can “just imagine those juicy, ripe pears contrasting with the sourness of the cheese, the crunchy earthiness of the walnuts, the sweet hit of honey and the touch of freshness from the chopped mint leaves” and I am drooling! I so so love the contrast in flavors in these delicate crostinis!
Helen says
Thank you so much, Shashi! I’m really happy my description struck a chord with you! 🙂
Maggie says
This is such a healthy appetizer! I love the combination of pear and feta, and these walnuts here add a wonderful nutty flavor. Pour me a glass of chilled white, I think it’s perfect enough for V-day’s brunch 🙂
Helen says
Ooh, now you’ve got me thinking about that chilled white, Maggie 🙂
Jess @ whatjessicabakednext says
LOVE these crostini! So delicious and it’s such a tasty idea to add feta! 😀
Helen says
Hi, Jess … glad you like them! Mmm, now I want to make more of these … 🙂
Bintu @ Recipes From A Pantry says
I like how good and simple this is Helen.
Helen says
Hi, Bintu … and thanks so much! Glad you like the crostini!
Gingi says
Ohhh, this looks yummy! Thank you for sharing! <3 – http://www.domesticgeekgirl.com
Helen says
Thanks, Gingi!
Medha @ Whisk & Shout says
Yum! I’m salivating over the walnut/pear/feta combo. Crostini is the best!
Helen says
It’s a great little snack, isn’t it? Thanks, Medha!
Chrissy says
The simplicity of this is what makes it so perfect. I can just imagine all the fresh Greek ingredients and am totally jealous!
Helen says
You’re so right, Chrissy. As you’ve probably noticed, simple recipes are my ‘thang’!
Lorraine @ Not Quite Nigella says
I feel the same way about feta and halloumi too! That salty flavour is so good and hard to put down too! 😀
Helen says
Ooh, now you’ve given me an idea – halloumi would be pretty good on a crostini like this, too!
Ashley says
haha please don’t turn into a chunk of feta cheese!! But I so know what you mean! Cheese is awesome 🙂
These crostini look awesome – I cannot get enough of pears right now and with the feta and walnuts??
Helen says
Teehee … I’ll try my best not to actually turn into cheese … 😉
Glad you like the crostini … pears, where have you been all my life?
Mira says
Oh yeah, you are making me hungry Helen! Feta cheese goes well with fruit and honey for sure! I always have feta in the fridge and will definitely try this recipe! Nice for a snack of appetizer. Pinned of course 🙂
Helen says
I feel like you ‘get’ where I’m coming from when I make my Mediterranean recipes, Mira! I totally approve of always having feta in the fridge!