Welsh Blue Cheese, Walnut, Pomegranate and Elderport Crostini
Prep Time: 15 mins Cook Time: 15 mins Serves: 8 - 10
This delicious canapé recipe was created especially for Discover Delicious by our friend and incredibly talented MasterChef Quarter Finalist, Imran Nathoo. Here’s what he had to say about this recipe;
“Why leave cheese until after the meal! Especially when we have such brilliant cheese being produced here in Wales. Let us celebrate the hard working and award winning cheese makers of Wales by showing them off right at the start of the feast! A crostini is essentially a small toasted bread such a ciabatta or baguette, topped with whatever you fancy really. It helps if what you put on top is delicious and exciting like my version here! This is a truly showstopping canape!”
Ingredients
- 1 large baguette
- 2-3 tbsp of Welsh Rapeseed oil
- 100g Welsh blue cheese (I used Tysul Blue) - crumbled
- 90ml crème fraiche
- 200ml of elderport
- Large handful of pomegranate seeds
- Large handful of roughly chopped walnuts
Method
1.Pour the elderport into a small sauce pan and simmer to reduce by half then remove from heat immediately and allow to cool. As it cools it will take on a syrupy consistency which is what is required.
2. Slice the baguette on an agle into 3cm ish thick slices, using a pastry brush coat each side with some rapeseed oil.
3. Transfer to a baking tray and bake in a preheated oven at 180c (fan) for 15 mins or until the bread is toasted and golden. Turn over half way through cooking. Set aside to cool.
4. Meanwhile combine the blue cheese with the crème fraiche (I used an electric whisk). The result should be a thick but spreadable mixture. Take time at this stage to really work the mixture to a smoothish consistency.
5. Spread a generous amount of the cheese mixture on each crostini.
6. Top each with the walnuts, pomegranate seeds then artistically drizzle on the elderport syrup over each one
7. Arrange on a large board or slate or similar then stand back and watch people devour this treat!
8. Recipe can be doubled to make more.
Drinks Pairing| Montgomery Vineyard
Award winning Welsh wines that will delight and surprise! Solaris – Super clean and super clear. Like an arrow this will cut though the richness of the blue cheese and crème fraiche to ready you for the next mouthful! Full of minerality and fruity on the nose. A drinkable delight and quite frankly the best white wine I’ve been lucky enough to try this year.