Blue Cheese and Red Onion Bruschetta . . or Crostini

Hi all,


I had to do a little research to find out, but I've got the skinny on the difference between crostini and bruschetta. They're both Italian toasts; the bruschetta is sliced more thickly, drizzled with olive oil and rubbed with garlic before serving. Crostini are more thinly sliced. Use whatever you like with this topping - but make sure it's good quality bread that's toasted until it's crispy on the outside.

This dish is based on a childhood memory of a sandwich spread made with diced processed yellow cheese, mayo, and diced onions. Gross, right? Actually, I remember it being pretty tasty at the time - but try my grown-up version and see what you think.

Take a medium red onion and set it on the counter. Slice it vertically into quarters and drizzle them with olive oil. Put it either into a 450-degree oven, or on the grill - but not right over the coals. We want to roast rather than grill. Let it cook until it's soft and sweet, but still has a little bit of "bite" in the texture. Let it come to room temperature, then chop into 1/2" pieces. My experience is that the slices start to separate when it's roasted, so don't worry if they're not perfect - this is a rustic dish!

You'll need about 1/3 to 1/2 as much blue cheese as you have roasted onions. If you can, get a recommendation from a knowledgeable salesperson (shameless plug: Like Mike at Star Market) to make sure you get something that's to your taste - blue cheese comes in many varieties, from mild and sweet to strong and sharp. Crumble the cheese and combine with the onions, a chopped handful of Italian parsley, and some cracked pepper. Spoon onto your toast of choice and enjoy!

Just a quick note - this is a fairly rich bite or two - you don't need gobs of it. The blue cheese is creamy and the onions bring sweetness and a hint of richness from the olive oil. It would make a great appetizer paired with some sliced apples and walnuts. Tomorrow night - you saw it coming - blue potatoes. Until then, I'll see you at the market!