Pomegranate Pistachio Crostinis: A New Take on Christmas Red & Green

The combination is equal parts salty and sweet, green and red, fruity and nutty.  I’ve always been a sucker for beautiful foods, especially ones that reinvent my favorite Christmas colors straight from nature itself.
These crostinis wouldn’t be complete without the addition of semi-soft goat cheese.  Although I realize that goat cheese is often an acquired taste, this tarter-than-average white cheese makes for a fantastic spread for sweet or salty items.  Together, the three toppings harmoniously compliment each other with a dish that is one-third tart, one-third sweet, and one-third salty.

As the holidays grow closer, instead of reaching for your red and green food coloring, reach for deep reds and minty greens straight from nature itself with these Pomegranate Pistachio Crostinis.  They’ll make you smile, and perhaps even taste a little bit like Christmas.

Pomegranate Pistachio Crostinis

This recipe is as easy as it is beautiful.  Measure a simple 1:1 ratio of pomegranate seeds to pistachio nuts for a perfect balance of salty and sweet flavors on French bread.  Feeling decadent? Toast the baguette slices in olive oil until golden brown before dressing in goat cheese, fruits, and nuts.

Ingredients:

* 1 baguette, cut into 1-inch slices

* 1 pomegranate, seeded

* 1 cup salted pistachios

* 5 ounces semi-soft goat cheese

* 2-3 tablespoons olive oil (optional, for toasting the bread if you choose to do so)

1.) Seed pomegranate: cut pomegranate in half and lightly pull seeds away from white tissue siding.  I like to “massage” the seeds out instead of spooning or pulling them from the rhine.  This way, you rarely crush the berries and make use of the entire pomegranate.

2.) Cut baguette into 1-inch slices and plate.  Spread goat cheese over baguette and sprinkle with pomegranate seeds and pistachios.

OPTIONAL STEP: Toast baguettes in olive oil for a crispier, more decadent appetizer.

Makes 8 servings.

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This recipe was re-published for my “Fresh Ideas” Column for Louisiana’s state newspaper, The Advocate, on Thursday, December 8th, 2011.  You can read the reprint here.

–Helana Brigman

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