This Broccoli Rabe and Ricotta Crostini is a simple and delicious throw-together appetizer. It's easy to make at the last minute with great garlic and spicy flavor!
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We've really been working on getting our yard into shape lately. A couple weeks ago, cleaned up the front and left side of our house- planted flowers and mulched. I also planted my pots.
This year I have pots of flowers out front. In the back I have pots of strawberries, jalapeños, Thai chili, basil, curly parsley, lemon thyme, and a cherry tomato plant for my Alice (she was fascinated with the one my mom bought!).
I also let A pick out a small pot for her and T and then choose the flowers to put into it. She picked a Caribbean blue pot for her and an orange one for T. I was impressed with how she knew exactly what she wanted when it came to choosing pots and the flowers that now reside within them.
Will they all survive? The jury is still out on that one. But I'm hoping that since I'm not pregnant or a mom to a new baby I will actually be able to give these plants a bit more love. We'll see.
We still have to clean out the back flower beds, plant a few more perennials and paint the shutters. J began staining the deck this weekend and so far it's looking great.
The right side of our house looks like a jungle, and not in a good way! J say's he's planning on cleaning it out, but that's been on the honey-do list for a few years now. So I'm thinking about hiring that out (there's also a wild tree growing that I don't want staying that close to our house). Again, we'll see.
It's crazy how busy life can be. Some weekends it feels like we get so much done, while others fly by and it's as if we've barely done a thing! I know I'm not the only one that feels this. We're in an extremely busy season of our life! I just wish we had more hours in the day!
So I recently shared my Grandma Rosie's Broccoli Rabe recipe. I had to share this variation because it was SO good and makes a quick appetizer (or light summer dinner!).
I'm all for simple, throw-together appetizer options, especially when they taste this great! This is an excellent way to wow any food-loving guests but with minimal effort on your part.
And I'm dead serious when I say you'll wow them! These were so good that they actually became a problem for me while I was taking photos. This is all due to a big mistake on my part. 
While I was getting my pictures done, I wanted to get a bite shot. So I took a big old bite of one of these guys, as you do. Poor decision.
Ugh, you guys, it was so delicious, I couldn't stop eating it. Then I ate another. And another. Thank goodness I already had the majority of my shots, or I would have been in big trouble!
I purchased a bag for pre-sliced baguette, which Wegmans does oh-so-well. But you can easily slice it yourself. It was so simple to throw the bread onto a sheet pan with a quick drizzle of olive oil and pop it under the broiler for a few minutes!
I love that the bread gets golden brown on top, but the underside isn't toasted, so it's still super easy to bite into and maintains that lovely baguette-chewiness that we all know and love.
The Ricotta is just a few ingredients mixed up but it adds an excellent creaminess that plays really nicely with the savory broccoli rabe. I also sprinkled on a bit of extra crushed red pepper for a little bit more kick and color.
I love having quick, throw-together apps like this in my repertoire. I'ts also a tasty, meatless meal and a great way to re-purpose leftover broccoli rabe!
Other great throw-together appetizers include:
- Pea Pesto Flatbread with Asparagus and Shaved Pecorino Romano
- Artichoke Asiago Dip
- Sheet Pan Chicken Nachos
- Salami Chips with a Honey Mustard Dipping Sauce
- Apple Bacon Brie Bites
- Bloody Mary Cheeseball
- Sweet and Spicy Kielbasa Bites
- Olive and Gruyere Puff Pastry Tartlets
- Jalapeno Popper Pull Apart Bread
- BLT Bruschetta
- Shrimp with Pesto and Prosciutto
- Summer Berry Dessert Crostini
Broccoli Rabe and Ricotta Crostini
Ingredients
- Sliced Baguette
- Olive oil
- 15 oz. container Ricotta cheese
- 3 heaping Tbsp. Romano cheese
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Sauteed Broccoli Rabe with Garlic and Crushed Red Pepper
- Extra crushed red pepper flake for garnish and an added kick
Instructions
- Heat the broiler to 350 degrees (leave the oven rack in the middle).
- Spread the sliced baguette pieces onto a baking sheet and lightly drizzle with olive oil.
- Broil for 5-10 minutes keeping an eye on them- remove when they're golden brown.
- Mix Ricotta cheese, Romano cheese well in a bowl and then add salt and pepper until it has enough flavor (taste it as you mix).
- Spread the Ricotta cheese mixture onto the toasted crostini.
- Top each Crostini with Sauteed Broccoli Rabe with Garlic and Crushed Red Pepper.
- Sprinkle with extra crushed red pepper flaskes for an added kick.
- Enjoy!
Notes
You can make everything ahead and assemble these at the last minute.
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