Crostini With Sun-Dried Tomato Jam

cookiedog's Note:

I watched Giada make this on TV today and it looks Fabulous! Looks like it would make a great appetizer or light lunch or dinner with a salad.

• Total Time: 1 hrs
• Prep Time: 15 mins
• Cook Time: 45 mins

Ingredients:

Servings: 5

Sun-Dried Tomato Jam

• 1 (8 ounce) jar sun-dried tomatoes packed in oil , drained and chopped, oil reserved
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• ½ onion , thinly sliced
• 1 garlic clove , minced
• 2 tablespoons sugar
• ¼ cup red wine vinegar
• 1 cup water
• ½ cup chicken broth
• 1 teaspoon chopped fresh thyme leave
• ½ teaspoon salt
• ½ teaspoon fresh ground black pepper

Crostini

• 1 baguette , cut into 3/4-inch slices
• ¼ cup olive oil
• salt
• fresh ground black pepper
• 5 ounces goat cheese , room temperature
• 2 teaspoons chopped fresh thyme leaves

Directions:

1. For the Sun-dried Tomato Jam: Place a medium saucepan over medium heat. Add the chopped sun-dried tomatoes, 1 tablespoon of the reserved sun-dried tomato oil, olive oil, onion, and garlic. Stir and cook until the onions are soft and beginning to brown at the edges, about 5 to 7 minutes. Add the sugar, vinegar, water, chicken broth, thyme, salt, and pepper. Bring the liquid to a boil, reduce the heat, and simmer, covered, for 30 minutes. Remove the cover and continue simmering until most of the liquid is reduced and the mixture is the consistency of jam, about 5 to 10 more minutes. Remove from the heat and set aside.
2. For the Crostini: Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with foil.
3. Place the baguette slices on the baking sheet. Using a pastry brush, lightly coat the baguette slices with olive oil. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Bake until lightly toasted, about 8 minutes.
4. Place the soft goat cheese in a small bowl. Stir in the thyme.
5. To assemble: Spread the crostini with Sun-Dried Tomato Jam and top with the goat cheese and herb mixture. Transfer to a serving plate and serve.

Reviews

[Elainia]

I made this for Christmas eve and it was fabulous! I read the recipe wrong and accidentally added 1/4 cup of red wine not vinegar and then added the vinegar when I realized what I had done, it was still outstanding. Everyone loved this one! I would make sure the goat cheese is cold when you are ready to top the bread since it is very sticky at room temp but a few minutes in the freezer did the trick. At the end we ended up spreading the cheese on the bread and topping with the tomato jam and that was good too, just not as pretty. I am making the jam again to top strip steaks one night for dinner, it was that good! edit- make this all the time for little get togethers and to bring to family dinners :) Its is a frequently requested item!! I keep making it with both the wine and the vinegar.

[Chef #627274]

We also watched the same episode of Giada, and we made it that evening - for dinner actually. We loved it. It's nice and rich and makes a good appetizer.