At first the thought of combining tart balsamic vinegar with sweet, ripe strawberries might sound strange. I understand because I felt that way when I initially tried the combination. But believe me, you will be pleasantly surprised at how the balance of flavors between the reduced, syrupy balsamic vinegar and the season’s ripe strawberries is a match made in culinary heaven. The balsamic vinegar actually becomes sweeter in taste when you reduce it down to half its original amount in a small saucepan, which makes these the perfect bites of sweet, tangy and creamy. Top these gorgeous, bite-sized treats with a sprinkling of fresh mint and what do you have? The colors of the Italian flag, of course!
Crostini with Mascarpone & Balsamic Strawberries
Ingredients:
- 1 cup balsamic vinegar
- 2 teaspoons sugar
- 8 oz. strawberries, hulled and chopped into 1/4-inch dice
- 12 crostini (toasted baguette slices drizzled with olive oil)
- 2 oz. mascarpone cheese (or cream cheese)
- Fresh mint leaves, chiffonade for garnish
- Freshly ground black pepper
Directions:
- Pour the balsamic vinegar into a small saucepan, along with the sugar. Reduce this mixture over medium-low heat until it is ½ its original value. (This should take about 15 minutes). Let the mixture cool. Once the mixture has cooled, pour it over the sliced strawberries and stir.
- Spread the mascarpone cheese over the crostini. Top each with a teaspoon of the balsamic-strawberry combination. Garnish with a sprinkling of chopped mint and a touch of freshly ground black pepper.
Tagged: appetizer, balsamic vinegar, crostini, Italian, mascarpone cheese, mint, reduction, strawberries
Leave a Reply