Impress your guests with this delicious and easy prosciutto crostini recipe. Perfect for any occasion, these bite-sized appetizers are bursting with flavor and will leave your guests begging for more. Learn how to make them in just a few simple steps.
We have been loving our nativity dinner tradition and a few years ago we added this crostini recipe to the menu. It has been on repeat ever since. It is totally irresistible. This holiday appetizer is from one of my favorite cookbooks from my friend, Tara.
This savory crostini consists of toasted (or grilled) baguette slices topped with caramelized shallots, prosciutto, mandarin oranges, toasted hazelnuts and fresh thyme. The combination of flavors and textures is everything an irresistible appetizer should be!
What Do I Need to Make Prosciutto Crostinis?
Before you head to the grocery store to pick up all your holiday ingredients, be sure to add these items to your list:
- Baguette
- Olive oil
- Shallots
- Kosher Salt
- White Balsamic Vinegar
- Brown Sugar
- Bay Leaf
- Coriander Seeds
- Mandarin Oranges
- Prosciutto
- Toasted Hazelnuts
- Fresh Thyme
The measurements of each ingredient can be found in the recipe card at the end of this post so keep scrolling for all the details.
What is Prosciutto and Where Can I Find It?
Prosciutto is a dry-cured ham of Italian origin that is not cooked. It is usually very thinly sliced, very delicate, perfectly fatty and extremely elegant.
It can be found in the specialty meats area of your grocery store.
Does Prosciutto Need to Be Cooked?
No, it is cured using salt which draws out all the moisture and blood in the meat which makes it safe to eat without cooking.
How to Make Prosciutto Crostinis
Crostinis look so fancy and boujee, but they are really easy to make! You can even buy baguette slices that are already toasted if you want to eliminate a step. Here are the step-by-step directions:
- Prep: Preheat the oven to 375ºF and thinly slice a baguette.
- Bake: Brush each slice of baguette with olive oil and place them in a single layer on a lined baking sheet and bake until toasted. Let them cool completely.
- Sauté: Heat a skillet over medium heat and sauté the shallot with the salt and 1 tablespoon of olive oil until the shallots are translucent – around 20 minutes.
- Simmer: Add the vinegar, brown sugar, bay leaf and coriander seeds to the shallots and simmer until the vinegar is reduced and nearly gone.
- Stir: Add the mandarin orange pieces and stir everything together. Remove from the heat.
- Assemble: Top each baguette slice with 1/2 slice of prosciutto, a spoonful of the mandarin shallot chutney and then sprinkle the hazelnuts and fresh thyme over the top. Serve immediately.
These instructions can also be found in the recipe card where you can also save or print the whole recipe.
Complete Nativity Dinner Menu
Make these prosciutto bruschetta bites as a simple appetizer and then follow them up with these other recipes for your nativity dinner:
And definitely don’t limit yourself to just Christmas, this is a great appetizer to make for game day, New Years Eve, a bridal/baby shower, and pretty much any other occasion you can think of. Shoot, I might even consider making them for myself for lunch. All the kids are at school, you are slaying all your mom life things…treat yo’self, girl!!
Can I Use Canned Mandarin Oranges?
I would not use canned mandarin oranges. They are completely the wrong flavor and texture for this recipe. If you don’t have fresh mandarin oranges, then I would just skip them. And we absolutely love the Wonderful Halo brand!
Substitutions or Variations
Ok buckle up because I have so many ideas for variations and substitutions in this recipe…
Prosciutto: Use bacon crumbles or thin slices of a good quality ham.
Shallots: Caramelizing a sweet onion would be a great substitute.
Hazelnuts: Pistachios or toasted pine nuts would be an excellent alternative.
Other add-ons: I love cheese on a crostini and a slice of manchego would be amazing on this one! I little slice of fig or a dollop of fig preserves would also pair well! Drizzle a little balsamic glaze on top for an extra layer of flavor!
Can Prosciutto Crostinis Be Made Ahead of Time?
I wouldn’t make these too far ahead of time. The toasted baguettes start to get soggy quite quickly with all those delicious toppings aboard. After assembling them, I would try to eat them with an hour or so.
Storing Crostinis
Once the crostinis have been assembled, they won’t store well for very long. All of the ingredients can be stored separately for several days. You could caramelize the shallots and store them in an airtight container in the fridge for a few days before assembling. Same thing for the crostinis and toasted hazelnuts except store them at room temperature. The crostinis should be assembled right before serving.
Looking for a delicious and easy appetizer to impress your guests? Look no further than this mouthwatering mandarin orange prosciutto crostini recipe. Perfect for any occasion!
More Finger Food Appetizers:
-
Heat oven to 375ºF.
-
Slice baguette thinly, brush with olive oil and bake until just toasted. Let cool.
1 Baguette, Olive oil
-
In a skillet over medium heat sauté the shallot and salt in 1 tablespoon olive oil until soft and translucent, about 20 min.
Olive oil, 2 Cups Shallots, 1/2 teaspoon Kosher Salt
-
Add the vinegar, brown sugar, bay leaf and coriander seeds and let simmer until vinegar is reduced and almost gone.
1/2 White Balsamic Vinegar, 1/2 Cup Brown Sugar, 1 Bay Leaf, 1 teaspoon Coriander Seeds
-
Add the Halo segments and stir. Remove from heat.
1 Cup Wonderful Halo Mandarin Segments
-
Top toasted baguette slices with a ½ piece of prosciutto, a spoonful of the Halo chutney and sprinkle with hazelnuts and thyme.
14 Slices Prosciutto, Toasted Hazelnuts, Fresh Thyme
Calories: 71kcal