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Fresh Spring Pea and Ricotta Crostini

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A quick and easy appetizer featuring sweet peas, creamy ricotta, fresh mint, and bright lemon zest on toasted baguette slices. Perfect for spring gatherings or a light snack.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 ½ cups (225 g) fresh or frozen peas
  • ½ cup (120 g) whole milk ricotta cheese
  • 1 tablespoon fresh mint leaves, finely chopped
  • Zest of 1 medium lemon
  • 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
  • 1 small baguette or rustic bread, sliced and toasted
  • Sea salt, to taste
  • Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
  • Optional: red pepper flakes
  • Optional: shaved Parmesan cheese

Instructions

  1. Bring a pot of salted water to a boil. Add peas and cook for about 2 minutes until bright green and tender but still slightly firm. Drain and plunge into ice bath or rinse under cold water to stop cooking.
  2. Gently mash the peas with a fork or potato masher in a bowl, leaving some whole for texture.
  3. Add ricotta, chopped mint, and lemon zest to the peas. Stir gently to combine. Season with sea salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste.
  4. Slice the baguette into ½-inch (1.25 cm) slices. Arrange on a baking sheet and toast in a preheated 400°F (200°C) oven for 5-7 minutes until golden and crisp, or toast in a hot skillet for 2-3 minutes per side.
  5. Spread a generous spoonful of the pea and ricotta mixture onto each toasted bread slice. Drizzle with extra-virgin olive oil and sprinkle with red pepper flakes or shaved Parmesan if desired.
  6. Serve immediately while bread is still crunchy and topping is cool and creamy.

Notes

Do not over-mash peas; leave some whole for texture. Use a microplane to zest lemon to avoid bitter pith. Toast bread until crisp but not too hard. Add olive oil drizzle for richness. Prepare pea mixture just before serving to keep flavors fresh.

Nutrition

Keywords: spring pea crostini, ricotta appetizer, easy crostini recipe, mint and lemon crostini, quick appetizer, spring appetizer

Find it online: https://elvafood.com/fresh-spring-pea-and-ricotta-crostini-recipe-easy-perfect-appetizer-with-mint-and-lemon-zest/