Garlic Butter Crostini Veggies (Print version)

Crostini with garlic butter, creamy topping, and a colorful medley of roasted vegetables.

# What You Need:

→ For the Crostini

01 - 1 baguette, sliced into 1/2-inch rounds (about 8 pieces)
02 - 3 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
03 - 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
04 - 2 garlic cloves, minced
05 - 1 garlic clove, whole
06 - Fine sea salt, to taste

→ For the Roasted Vegetables

07 - 1 small zucchini, diced
08 - 1 small red bell pepper, diced
09 - 1 small yellow bell pepper, diced
10 - 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
11 - 1 small red onion, diced
12 - 2 tablespoons olive oil
13 - 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
14 - 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
15 - Salt, to taste

→ For Topping

16 - 1 cup ricotta cheese
17 - 2 tablespoons fresh basil leaves, thinly sliced
18 - 1 tablespoon balsamic glaze, optional
19 - Freshly ground black pepper, for garnish

# How to Make:

01 - Preheat oven to 425°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. In a bowl, toss diced zucchini, bell peppers, cherry tomatoes, and red onion with 2 tablespoons olive oil, oregano, pepper, and salt. Spread evenly on the prepared baking sheet.
02 - Roast vegetables in the oven for 18 to 20 minutes, stirring once halfway through, until charred and tender. Remove from oven and set aside.
03 - While vegetables roast, combine softened butter, minced garlic, and 2 tablespoons olive oil in a small bowl. Mix until well incorporated.
04 - Arrange baguette slices on a second baking sheet. Brush each slice generously with the garlic butter mixture. Bake at 425°F for 6 to 8 minutes until golden and crisp.
05 - Remove crostini from oven. While still warm, rub the top of each slice with the whole garlic clove for enhanced flavor.
06 - Spread a generous spoonful of ricotta cheese on each warm crostini. Top each with roasted vegetables.
07 - Drizzle with balsamic glaze if desired, sprinkle with fresh basil, and finish with a grind of black pepper. Serve immediately while warm.

# Expert tips:

01 -
  • The contrast between crispy bread and creamy ricotta feels indulgent without requiring any real skill.
  • Roasting the vegetables brings out their sweetness in a way raw ones never could, and the char adds real depth.
  • You can make everything ahead and assemble right before people arrive, which is honestly the dream.
02 -
  • Don't assemble these too early—the warm crostini will soften the ricotta into soup, and the bread will lose its crunch.
  • If your baguette is stale, it actually works better here because it holds up to the toppings without collapsing into mush.
03 -
  • Use a pastry brush to apply garlic butter—it distributes evenly and uses less butter than spreading with a knife.
  • If ricotta seems stiff, stir in a teaspoon of olive oil to loosen it before spreading, but don't add water or it gets watery.
Go back