Description
A delicious appetizer featuring sweet, slow-caramelized vidalia onions atop toasted baguette slices, paired with luscious fig jam and tangy blue cheese, garnished with fresh rosemary and black pepper. Perfect for entertaining or a sophisticated snack.
Ingredients
Scale
Onions
- 1 large vidalia onion (about 12 oz), peeled, halved, and thinly sliced
- 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
- ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
- 2 teaspoons balsamic vinegar
Crostini
- 1 baguette, sliced into ¼-inch rounds
- ⅓ cup fig preserves
- ¼ cup blue cheese crumbles
- 2 sprigs fresh rosemary, torn or roughly chopped
- freshly ground black pepper, for serving
Instructions
- Caramelize the onions: Heat 2 tablespoons of extra-virgin olive oil in a large cast iron or heavy-bottomed skillet over medium-high heat. Add the thinly sliced vidalia onions and sprinkle with ¼ teaspoon kosher salt. Cook for about 5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until onions start to soften without browning.
- Slow cook the onions: Reduce heat to medium-low, cover the pan with a lid, and cook the onions for about 1 hour, stirring every 10-15 minutes to prevent burning and promote even caramelization. If onions begin to burn or stick, add a splash of water or broth and scrape the pan to loosen caramelized bits for flavor.
- Add balsamic vinegar: During the last 10 minutes of cooking, stir in 2 teaspoons balsamic vinegar to add depth and a subtle tang. Once done, remove from heat and set aside.
- Prepare the crostini: Preheat the oven to 400°F. Arrange the sliced baguette rounds on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper or foil.
- Assemble the crostini: Spread 1 to 2 teaspoons of fig preserves on each baguette slice. Top each with a generous spoonful of caramelized onion, followed by chunks of blue cheese.
- Toast the crostini: Place the assembled crostini in the oven and bake for 4 to 5 minutes, until the bread is toasted and blue cheese starts to soften.
- Garnish and serve: Remove from oven, sprinkle with fresh rosemary and freshly ground black pepper to taste. Serve warm or at room temperature.
Notes
- Use vidalia or other sweet onions for best caramelization and flavor.
- Stir often during caramelization to avoid burning and to develop rich color.
- If onions start sticking, adding a splash of water helps deglaze the pan and prevents burning.
- Fig jam can be substituted with other fruit preserves like apricot or raspberry for variation.
- For a milder cheese, swap blue cheese with goat cheese or ricotta.
- Make crostini ahead and reheat briefly before serving to maintain crispiness.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 crostini
- Calories: 110 kcal
- Sugar: 4 g
- Sodium: 120 mg
- Fat: 6 g
- Saturated Fat: 3 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 3 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 12 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 3 g
- Cholesterol: 10 mg
