These 7 ingredient, make-ahead, assemble-later Ricotta Crostini with Roasted Tomatoes are the perfect appetizer for your next get-together! Delicious any time of the year, these crostini use cherry tomatoes and balsamic glaze.
At over 8 million views and thousands of positive reviews, these Ricotta Crostini with Roasted Tomatoes have become my most popular holiday recipe to date! Each component can be ahead of time and assembled right before your celebration, making it an go-to option for easy entertaining.
A spin on the fresh flavors of a caprese salad, these ricotta bruschetta are full of amazing textures and flavors. Toasted garlic bread topped with elevated creamy ricotta, garlicky tomatoes and a sweet and tangy glaze, your guest are certain to come back for more!
I love to serve these alongside my Red Lobster Sausage Balls, as well as my Herb and Onion Dip, and Cranberry Jalapeno Salsa.
Table of Contents
Why You'll Love this Recipe
- Time Saver Appetizer: Make entertaining easier by making each component ahead of time and assembling right before your event.
- Boasts Fresh Flavors: Creamy, flavorful ricotta, roasted sweet tomatoes, and minced garlic in every layer makes every bite fresh and delicious!
- Incredible Textures: The crispy texture of the toasted bread contrasts beautifully with the juicy and flavorful toppings, creating the perfect bite.
- Festive Holiday Feels: Red, green, and white colors in this appetizer brings the merry vibes to any holiday celebration!
Ingredients in Ricotta Bruschetta
Scroll Down to the Recipe Card for the Full Recipe and Ingredient Amounts
- Sweet Cherry Tomatoes: Brings freshness and vibrant color to the toasts. They also contribute to both the sweetness and acidity.
- Olive Oil: Helps to moisten the ingredients and adds a rich, fruity, and slightly peppery flavor. It also acts as a binding agent and adds a glossy sheen.
- Fresh Garlic: Imparts a savory and aromatic element.
- Ricotta Cheese: Adds creaminess and a mild, slightly sweet flavor. It also provides a smooth texture to contrast the crunch of the toast.
- Fresh Basil: Infuses a fragrant, aromatic quality to the toasts. The basil complements the sweetness of tomatoes and adds a burst of flavor.
- Crusty Bread Loaf: Provides a crunchy base that contrasts with the creamy ricotta.
- Balsamic Glaze: A sweet and tangy flavor that adds depth and richness to each bite.
Tools You'll Need
How to make Ricotta Crostini with Roasted Tomatoes
- In a small baking dish, combine tomatoes, 1 tablespoon olive oil, 2 minced garlic cloves and ¼ teaspoon each salt and pepper. Bake at 400ºF for 20 minutes or until the tomatoes have slightly burst. Refrigerate until ready to use.
- In a blender or food processor, combine ricotta, 1 minced garlic clove, 1 tablespoon olive oil, ½ cup fresh basil and ¼ teaspoon each salt and pepper. Blend until smooth, then refrigerate until ready to use.
- Slice bread in 12 ½-inch slices. In a small bowl, whisk together 1 tablespoon olive oil and 1 minced garlic clove. To each bread slice, brush both sides with garlic olive oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Bake at 400ºF 10-12 minutes or until toasted well.
- When ready to serve, spread each cooled bread slice with 1-2 tablespoons of the the ricotta mixture, top with tomatoes (2-3 per toast), sprinkle with fresh basil, and drizzle balsamic glaze on top.
Expert Tips and Substitutions
- Best Bread Choices: A rustic Italian, French bread, Baguette or ciabatta are great choices. The key is to use a bread with a firm crust that can hold the toppings.
- Balsamic Glaze Options: Store-bought ready-made balsamic, balsamic fig glaze, or balsamic raspberry glaze all work great! Making balsamic glaze from scratch is a simple process that involves reducing balsamic vinegar to a thicker, syrupy consistency. Here's a basic recipe:
- Combine 1 cup balsamic vinegar + 2 tablespoons honey or brown sugar (optional, for sweetness) in a saucepan.
- Place the saucepan over medium heat and bring the mixture to a gentle boil. Once it boils, reduce the heat to low to simmer. Allow the mixture to simmer, stirring occasionally, until it has reduced by half or reaches your desired thickness. This process usually takes about 15-20 minutes.
- To test the consistency, dip a spoon into the mixture and let it cool for a moment. The glaze should coat the back of the spoon. Keep in mind that the glaze will thicken slightly as it cools.
- Ricotta Substitutions: If you're not a fan of ricotta cheese, there are a couple substitution options. Keep in mind that the flavor and consistency will be altered.
- Cream Cheese
- Goat Cheese
- Mascarpone
- Cottage Cheese
- Plant-Based Ricotta Alternatives
- Feta Cheese
Storage and Freezing
For Make-ahead: Prep the toasts in advance as well as roast the tomatoes and mix the ricotta. Assemble up to an hour before a party. These are also great to bring with you and assemble at an event!
For Refrigerating: Once this hors d'oeuvres has been assembled, it's should be consumed within 2 hours. Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator. However, keep in mind that the bread will lose its crispiness over time.
For Freezing: It is not recommended to freeze and thaw this appetizer.
Frequently Asked Questions
There are a lot of similarities between the two. They both have toasted bread, tomatoes, garlic, and tomatoes. The most significant difference is the presence of ricotta cheese as cheese is absent in traditional bruschetta.
Grilling or toasting the bread is recommended as it gives the roasted tomato basil ricotta toast a slightly crispy texture on the outside while keeping the inside soft. It's also important for keeping the structure while it's being eaten.
While it's best to assemble it just before serving to prevent the bread from becoming soggy, you can prepare the tomato topping and ricotta mixture in advance and store it in the refrigerator.
Cold or slightly warm can both work. You can make the tomato and ricotta mixtures and refrigerate until ready to assemble. On the other hand, you can assemble them once the toasted bread and roasted tomato mixture has slightly cooled. Ensure they've had time to cool so that it doesn't melt the ricotta mixture.
While garlic is a key flavor in this party appetizer, you can omit it if you're not a fan. Alternatively, you can lightly brush the bread with garlic-infused olive oil for a milder flavor.
More Easy Appetizer Recipes
Ricotta Crostini with Roasted Tomatoes
Ingredients
- 1 pound sweet cherry tomatoes
- 3 tablespoons olive oil divided
- 4 minced garlic cloves divided
- Salt/Black Pepper
- 8 ounces ricotta
- 1 bunch fresh basil divided
- 1 crusty bread loaf
- Balsamic Glaze
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400ºF.
- In a small baking dish, combine tomatoes, 1 tablespoon olive oil, 2 minced garlic cloves and ¼ teaspoon each salt and pepper. Bake 20 minutes or until the tomatoes have slightly burst. Refrigerate until ready to use.
- In a blender or food processor, combine ricotta, 1 minced garlic clove, 1 tablespoon olive oil, ½ cup fresh basil and ¼ teaspoon each salt and pepper. Blend until smooth, then refrigerate until ready to use.
- Slice bread in 12 ½-inch slices. In a small bowl, whisk together 1 tablespoon olive oil and 1 minced garlic clove. To each bread slice, brush both sides with garlic olive oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Bake at 400ºF 10-12 minutes or until toasted well.
- When ready to serve, spread each cooled bread slice with 1-2 tablespoons of the the ricotta mixture, top with tomatoes (2-3 per toast), sprinkle with fresh basil, and drizzle balsamic glaze on top.
Video
Notes
-
- Best Bread Choices: A rustic Italian, French bread, Baguette or ciabatta are great choices. The key is to use a bread with a firm crust that can hold the toppings.
-
- Balsamic Glaze Options: Store-bought ready-made balsamic, balsamic fig glaze, or balsamic raspberry glaze all work great! Making balsamic glaze from scratch is a simple process that involves reducing balsamic vinegar to a thicker, syrupy consistency. Here's a basic recipe:
-
- Combine 1 cup balsamic vinegar + 2 tablespoons honey or brown sugar (optional, for sweetness) in a saucepan.
-
- Place the saucepan over medium heat and bring the mixture to a gentle boil. Once it boils, reduce the heat to low to simmer. Allow the mixture to simmer, stirring occasionally, until it has reduced by half or reaches your desired thickness. This process usually takes about 15-20 minutes.
-
- To test the consistency, dip a spoon into the mixture and let it cool for a moment. The glaze should coat the back of the spoon. Keep in mind that the glaze will thicken slightly as it cools.
-
- Balsamic Glaze Options: Store-bought ready-made balsamic, balsamic fig glaze, or balsamic raspberry glaze all work great! Making balsamic glaze from scratch is a simple process that involves reducing balsamic vinegar to a thicker, syrupy consistency. Here's a basic recipe:
-
- Ricotta Substitutions: If you're not a fan of ricotta cheese, there are a couple substitution options that you can use instead. Keep in mind that the flavor and consistency will be altered.
-
- Cream Cheese
-
- Goat Cheese
-
- Mascarpone
-
- Cottage Cheese
-
- Plant-Based Ricotta Alternatives
-
- Feta Cheese
-
- Ricotta Substitutions: If you're not a fan of ricotta cheese, there are a couple substitution options that you can use instead. Keep in mind that the flavor and consistency will be altered.
Janet
I'm making this for a wine tasting. My plan is to prepare all the parts the day ahead. Is that ok? Even the bread?
Laura Ashley
Yes! Happy to hear you are making it! Let the fully toasted slices of bread cool completely before storing. Then, store them in an air-tight container. Hope they are a hit at your tasting. This recipe has become my most popular recipe to date! 🙂
Shari Allen
Thanks so much, looking forward to making this.
Laura Ashley
You’re welcome! I hope you love them too!!
Michele
Absolutely love these! Just made them and they taste fabulous 😊
Laura Ashley
That is FANTASTIC!! I’m so excited that you made them and they were such a hit! Thank you so much, Michele!
Lynn
This made a great app for our Thanksgiving table! Thanks for the recipe!
Laura Ashley
That's WONDERFUL! I'm so happy it was a holiday hit! THANK YOU!
Eliza
LOVE the combination of tomatoes, fragrant basil, and velvety ricotta on crusty bread. Thanks for the balsamic glaze recipe, too!
Laura Ashley
I'm so happy to hear you liked the combination of flavors!
Janelle
Huge hit at my party this party this weekend! Everyone loved it!
Laura Ashley
That is FANTASTIC!! I'm so excited it was such a hit! Thank you SO much!!
Jules
We whipped up this crostini recipe for a holiday open house and everyone loved it!
Laura Ashley
Awesome!! I'm so happy it was such a hit!
Sue Ringsdorf
Such a simple appetizer and I could eat it for dinner! My family loves it too!!
Laura Ashley
YAY! So happy it was a hit!
Debi
That whipped ricotta makes these appetizers extra special. My guests were so impressed!
Laura Ashley
Ohh la la! I'm s happy to hear they liked it too!
Kathleen
AMAZING! I made it for a party the other night, and I think someone mentioned licking their plate! 🙂
Laura Ashley
Music to my ears! LOL I'm so happy everyone liked it so much! THANK YOU!!
Lynn
SO GOOD! And so simple to make. Thanks for the great recipe!
Laura Ashley
Thank you Thank you! I'm so happy you liked it so much!
Jennifer
Love the flavor combo! I could eat my weight in these:)
Laura Ashley
SO SWEET! Thank you! I'm happy it was a hit!
Janelle
I was a little leary of this recipe as I'm not a huge fan of Ricotta, but my husband is and wanted them at our Christmas party. Wow. It was absolutely delicious!
Laura Ashley
Awesome!! I'm so happy it won you over and that you liked it so much! THANK YOU!!
mindy h
Made it for a church Christmas party church this weekend, and it was so popular I had people asking me for the recipe! A+++!
Laura Ashley
With that rating, my day is made! Thank you SO much!! I'm so happy your church party liked it so much!!
Susan
What a wonderful appetizer for New Years with these colors and flavors. Thank you!!
Laura Ashley
Thank you SO much!! I'm so happy you liked it!
Sierra
Made this for Christmas and everyone LOVED IT!!!!! Definitely will be making this again and again and again!!!
Laura Ashley
YAY!! I love that it's been a repeat and big hit! THANK YOU so much!!