Crostini with Hatch Chiles and Goat Cheese

Green hatch chiles are sweet, spicy & crisp with a smoky taste and abound in summer. I serve crostini as an appetiser. Perfect first bite before main course. 

Ingredients

Crostini:

1 baguette, cut on a sharp angle into thin 3-inch-long slices

1 tablespoon olive oil

Toppings:

4 Hatch chiles

1 cup fresh goat cheese

1/4 cup cilantro, chopped

1/4 cup parsley, chopped

Finely grated zest of 1 lemon

1/4 teaspoon ground cumin

1/8 teaspoon cayenne

Extra-virgin olive oil, for garnish

Cilantro sprigs, for garnish

Directions

PREP TIME
25
MINS
COOKING TIME
7
MINS
Serves
4
Make-Ahead:

The crostini, roasted chiles, and goat cheese mixture can be made up to 1 day ahead. Store the crostini airtight at room temperature. Cover the chiles and goat cheese mixture separately and refrigerate. 

To make the crostini:

Place the baguette slices on a baking sheet and drizzle a little oil on both sides of the baguette slices.

Season lightly with salt and pepper and toast the baguette slices under the broiler for 1 to 2 minutes on each side or until golden brown. Allow the crostini to cool.

To prepare the chiles:

Prepared a barbecue for medium-high heat.

Toss the chiles with the oil to coat and grill the chiles for 4 to 5 minutes per side, or until the chiles take on a charred look and the skin begins to blister. Remove the chiles from the grill to a large bowl and wrap tightly with plastic warp to steam the skins from the chiles.

Once the chiles are cool, gently peel away the skin and discard the skin and seeds. Cut the chiles into thin ribbons and set aside.

To make goat cheese mixture:

In a large bowl, mix the goat cheese, chopped cilantro, parsley, lemon zest, cumin, and cayenne to blend. Season the mixture to taste with salt.

To serve:

Spread a generous amount of the goat cheese mixture over each crostini and top with the chile strips. Garnish with extra-virgin olive oil and cilantro sprigs, and serve.