These Mediterranean Crostini are made with hummus, tangy sun-dried tomatoes, and briny olives, all topped with balsamic glaze & feta cheese! They make for an easy appetizer that comes together quickly and tastes delicious! Serve them at the holidays or for a summer cookout! 😊
Crostinis are little toasts that can be topped or dipped and make a perfect appetizer! There are so many options for delicious toppings for crostini, and as a dietitian I love trying them all! These Mediterranean crostini for a quick bite that can be made in about 20 minutes.
I love using homemade hummus for these Mediterranean Crostini and use either my Creamy Mediterranean Hummus or High Protein Hummus made with Cottage Cheese.
If you're looking for more appetizer ideas, try my Sweet Potato Rounds with Whipped Ricotta & Pecan Date Topping for a gluten-free option.
Jump to:
Key Ingredients and Substitutions
This Mediterranean Crostini is made with simple ingredients. Below is the list of ingredients. Be sure to check the printable recipe card at the bottom for exact ingredient measurements and complete recipe.
- Crusty Bread - I recommend using a baguette which is a long and thin loaf of bread with a crunchy crust. You can use French bread for this recipe, too. French bread is wider and longer than a baguette and has a softer crust. And don't worry if your bread is a little stale! It'll bake in the oven and get crunchy anyway so this is a great way to use up stale bread.
- Extra-Virgin Olive Oil, Salt & Pepper - you'll use a little olive oil, salt, and ground pepper to bake the bread.
- Hummus - I love to use my homemade Mediterranean hummus for this recipe, but you can use store-bought hummus as a shortcut! Hummus is made with garbanzo beans which contain plant protein and B vitamins that have been shown to support brain health.
- Sun-Dried Tomatoes - sun-dried tomatoes are tomatoes that have been dried and are typically preserved in oil. They are slightly chewy and really flavorful because the process of drying tomatoes concentrates their sweet and tangy flavor. I love using them in this recipe for a pop of flavor in every bite. If you prefer, feel free to use diced fresh tomatoes instead!
- Olives - I use green olives when I serve these little crusts at the holidays because it gives them the red & green Christmas colors. If I'm serving them in the summer months, I'll use Kalamata olives or a black olive mix instead.
- Feta Cheese - feta cheese is full of flavor, slightly salty, and a bit tangy. It also provides protein, calcium, a fatty acid called conjugated linoleic acid, and a probiotic called Lactobacillus plantarum that can help support gut health. If you don't like feta, you can use goat cheese or ricotta cheese instead!
- Balsamic Glaze - balsamic glaze is a reduction of balsamic vinegar and it is great for adding as a topping in recipes like these Mediterranean Crostini! A little bit goes a long way so just drizzle it on top before serving.
- Optional for topping - lemon juice, extra virgin olive oil, fresh herbs such as parsley or basil.
How to Make Mediterranean Crostini
Below is a summary of the steps for how to make this recipe with some visuals that I hope are helpful! Don't forget to check out the recipe card at the bottom for the full recipe.
- Step 1: Preheat the oven to
400℉ (200°C) and prepare a baking sheet with parchment paper for easy clean up. Slice the baguette into ½ inch pieces. Depending on the size of your baguette, you'll end up with 12-16 slices. To give yourself more surface area to work with, cut on the bias (at an angle). Spray or brush both sides of baguette slices with olive oil and add a pinch of flaky sea salt and pepper. Place baguette slices in a single layer on the prepared baking sheet. Bake for 7-9 minutes until they're a light golden brown. Remove from the oven and bring to room temperature.
- Step 2: Add a thin layer of hummus (about a tablespoon of hummus) to each piece of toasted bread.
- Step 3: In a small bowl, combine the chopped sun-dried tomatoes and olives. Add a spoonful of the mixture to each slice of bread.
- Step 4: Top with feta cheese and a drizzle of balsamic glaze right before serving!
Hint: I use this olive oil spray bottle to coat my bread and it sprays just the right amount!
Alternative option: If you have an outdoor grill, you can grill the bread slices instead. Just place them on the hot grill rack and let them toast for about 3 minutes on each side. This will give them some grill marks and a smokier flavor.
Dietitian Tip
Carbohydrates like the baguette used in this Mediterranean Crostini can get a bad rep! But carbs are an important source of energy for your body, and are actually your brain's preferred energy source. Look for a fresh baguette made in your local grocery bakery for less processed ingredients!
Video of How to Make Mediterranean Crostini
Here is a video of how to make this recipe that I hope is helpful!
Variations
The great thing about making these Mediterranean Crostini at home is that you can customize them to your liking. Below are some ideas, but feel free to get creative!
- Fresh Tomatoes - using cherry tomatoes in place of sun-dried tomatoes is a delicious way to to serve these for your next gathering. Or use a tomato mixture with different kinds of tomatoes and fresh basil like a traditional bruschetta.
- Caprese Crostinis - use Campari or Roma tomatoes, mozzarella cheese, and fresh basil to turn these into Caprese crostinis! This is an especially great appetizer for the summer months when tomatoes are in peak season!
- Deluxe - use the cut sides of garlic cloves and rub them on the slices of bread before toasting them. The garlic flavor will infuse into each piece of bread while it bakes.
- Greek-Inspired Crostini - if you want more of a Greek flavor, replace hummus with a layer of tzatziki sauce on each slice of bread.
Storage
*For best results, bake the crostini the same day you will be serving it! However, if you need to make it in advance, here are some storage instructions:
- Refrigerator - store the crostini in the refrigerator for up to 2-3 days. When ready to serve, add your toppings. You can also make the toppings in advance. Homemade hummus will stay good in the fridge for 3-5 days and the sun-dried tomatoes & olive mixture will stay good for up to 3 days.
Expert Tips
- When slicing your bread, do so at an angle to give yourself more surface area to work with.
- Check on the bread at 7 minutes and every minute or so thereafter. Oven times will vary depending on your oven and they can easily go from golden brown to burnt!
- Let your bread cool before adding the toppings. This prevents the hummus from sinking into the bread.
- Wait until just before serving to add the toppings to your crostini!
FAQ
While healthy means something different to everyone, these Mediterranean Crostini are a nutrient-rich option. They contain hummus, which is a source of plant protein and B vitamins that have been shown to support brain health. They also provide carbohydrates which are an important source of energy for the body. And the olive oil and olives provide heart healthy fats that support hormone health. The sun-dried tomatoes are a source of antioxidants and other important nutrients including vitamin C.
Technically speaking, bruschetta typically has a very specific topping of tomatoes, garlic, basil, and olive oil. On the flip side, crostini can have any variety of toppings! Bruschetta also uses thicker/heartier slices of bread.
I suggest using a baguette for this recipe. If you can find it and want to add more dietary fiber for a healthy gut, use a whole-grain baguette!
I suggest looking for sun-dried tomatoes that are preserved in oil. These will typically be found in a bottle and can be located either in the produce section or the canned goods section near the tomatoes and olives.
Related
Looking for other dietitian recipes like this? Try these:
Pairing
These are my favorite dishes to serve with Mediterranean Crostini
Want to Learn About Nutrition?
Here are some of my educational posts you may enjoy:
I hope you enjoy this recipe as much as I do! I would love to hear from you! If you made this recipe, please leave me a review below or tag me in a photo or story on Instagram. Your reviews help support me and make it possible for me to continue to create the recipes you know and love. 🙂 IG: @mallorythedietitian
📖 Recipe
Mediterranean Crostini with Hummus, Easy Appetizer
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 baguette crusty french bread
- 1-2 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil for brushing the bread
- flaky sea salt & black pepper to sprinkle on the bread
- ½-1 cup hummus I use my Mediterranean hummus recipe for this.
- ¼ cup chopped sun-dried tomatoes I use tomatoes packed in oil
- ¼ cup chopped green olives or kalamata olives
- ¼ cup crumbled feta cheese more to taste
- drizzle balsamic glaze for topping
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400℉ (200°C) and prepare a baking sheet with parchment paper for easy clean up. Slice the baguette into ½ inch pieces. Depending on the size of your baguette, you'll end up with 12-16 slices. To give yourself more surface area to work with, cut on the bias (at an angle). Spray or brush both sides of baguette slices with olive oil and add a pinch of flaky sea salt and pepper. Place baguette slices in a single layer on the prepared baking sheet. Bake for 7-9 minutes until they're a light golden brown. Remove from the oven and bring to room temperature.
- Add a thin layer of hummus (about a tablespoon of hummus) to each piece of toasted bread. I use my homemade Mediterranean hummus, but feel free to use store-bought hummus instead.
- In a small bowl, combine the chopped sun-dried tomatoes and olives. Add a spoonful of the mixture to each slice of bread.
- Top with feta cheese and a drizzle of balsamic glaze right before serving!
- Hint: I use this olive oil spray bottle to coat my bread and it sprays just the right amount!
- Alternative option: If you have an outdoor grill, you can grill the bread slices instead. Just place them on the hot grill rack and let them toast for about 3 minutes on each side. This will give them some grill marks and a smokier flavor.
Video
Notes
- When slicing your bread, do so at an angle to give yourself more surface area to work with.
- Check on the bread at 7 minutes and every minute or so thereafter. Oven times will vary depending on your oven and they can easily go from golden brown to burnt!
- Let your bread cool before adding the toppings. This prevents the hummus from sinking into the bread.
- Wait until just before serving to add the toppings to your crostini!
- Refrigerator - store the crostini bread in the refrigerator for up to 2-3 days. When ready to serve, add your toppings. You can also make the toppings in advance. Homemade hummus will stay good in the fridge for 3-5 days and the sun-dried tomatoes & olive mixture will stay good for up to 3 days.
References: Aleka's Get Together
Comments
No Comments