Name: Cucumber and Herb Cream Cheese Crostini
Ingredients: Baguette: One fresh baguette, about 12-16 inches long. Provides the crispy base for the crostini. Choose a good quality baguette for the best texture and flavor.; Cream Cheese: 8 ounces, softened. Forms the creamy and flavorful base of the topping. Full-fat cream cheese will offer the richest flavor and texture, but reduced-fat can be used as a lighter option.; Fresh Cucumber: 1 medium cucumber. Adds a refreshing crunch and coolness to the crostini. English cucumbers or Persian cucumbers are ideal due to their thinner skin and fewer seeds, but any cucumber will work.; Fresh Dill: 2 tablespoons, chopped. Offers a bright, slightly tangy, and grassy flavor that complements the cream cheese and cucumber beautifully. Fresh dill is crucial for the best taste; dried dill is not recommended as a substitute.; Fresh Chives: 2 tablespoons, chopped. Provides a mild oniony and fresh flavor that adds another layer of complexity to the herb mixture. Chives are delicate and best used fresh.; Fresh Parsley: 2 tablespoons, chopped. Contributes a clean, slightly peppery, and fresh flavor, rounding out the herb profile. Flat-leaf parsley (Italian parsley) or curly parsley can be used, depending on preference.; Lemon Juice: 1 tablespoon, freshly squeezed. Adds a touch of acidity that brightens the cream cheese mixture and balances the richness. Freshly squeezed lemon juice is essential for the best flavor.; Garlic Powder: ½ teaspoon. Enhances the savory notes of the cream cheese mixture without being overpowering. Garlic powder provides a subtle background flavor.; Salt: ½ teaspoon, or to taste. Seasoning that balances the flavors and enhances the overall taste of the cream cheese mixture. Use kosher salt or sea salt for the best flavor.; Black Pepper: ¼ teaspoon, freshly ground, or to taste. Adds a touch of spice and depth to the cream cheese mixture. Freshly ground black pepper is recommended for the most aromatic flavor.; Olive Oil: 2 tablespoons, extra virgin. Used for brushing the baguette slices before baking, adding flavor and helping them crisp up beautifully. Extra virgin olive oil offers the best flavor and health benefits.; Optional Garnishes: Fresh dill sprigs, extra cucumber slices, red pepper flakes (for a touch of heat). These are used for visual appeal and to enhance the flavor profile further.

Ingredients

Baguette: One fresh baguette, about 12-16 inches long. Provides the crispy base for the crostini. Choose a good quality baguette for the best texture and flavor.
Cream Cheese: 8 ounces, softened. Forms the creamy and flavorful base of the topping. Full-fat cream cheese will offer the richest flavor and texture, but reduced-fat can be used as a lighter option.
Fresh Cucumber: 1 medium cucumber. Adds a refreshing crunch and coolness to the crostini. English cucumbers or Persian cucumbers are ideal due to their thinner skin and fewer seeds, but any cucumber will work.
Fresh Dill: 2 tablespoons, chopped. Offers a bright, slightly tangy, and grassy flavor that complements the cream cheese and cucumber beautifully. Fresh dill is crucial for the best taste; dried dill is not recommended as a substitute.
Fresh Chives: 2 tablespoons, chopped. Provides a mild oniony and fresh flavor that adds another layer of complexity to the herb mixture. Chives are delicate and best used fresh.
Fresh Parsley: 2 tablespoons, chopped. Contributes a clean, slightly peppery, and fresh flavor, rounding out the herb profile. Flat-leaf parsley (Italian parsley) or curly parsley can be used, depending on preference.
Lemon Juice: 1 tablespoon, freshly squeezed. Adds a touch of acidity that brightens the cream cheese mixture and balances the richness. Freshly squeezed lemon juice is essential for the best flavor.
Garlic Powder: ½ teaspoon. Enhances the savory notes of the cream cheese mixture without being overpowering. Garlic powder provides a subtle background flavor.
Salt: ½ teaspoon, or to taste. Seasoning that balances the flavors and enhances the overall taste of the cream cheese mixture. Use kosher salt or sea salt for the best flavor.
Black Pepper: ¼ teaspoon, freshly ground, or to taste. Adds a touch of spice and depth to the cream cheese mixture. Freshly ground black pepper is recommended for the most aromatic flavor.
Olive Oil: 2 tablespoons, extra virgin. Used for brushing the baguette slices before baking, adding flavor and helping them crisp up beautifully. Extra virgin olive oil offers the best flavor and health benefits.
Optional Garnishes: Fresh dill sprigs, extra cucumber slices, red pepper flakes (for a touch of heat). These are used for visual appeal and to enhance the flavor profile further.

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Instructions

Prepare the Baguette: Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Slice the baguette into ½-inch thick rounds. Aim for even slices so they bake uniformly. A serrated knife works best for slicing baguettes to prevent squashing the bread.
Brush with Olive Oil: Arrange the baguette slices in a single layer on a baking sheet. Brush both sides of each slice lightly with olive oil. This will help them crisp up nicely and add a subtle richness and flavor. Don’t oversaturate them with oil, just a light brushing is sufficient.
Bake the Crostini: Bake in the preheated oven for 8-10 minutes, or until the crostini are lightly golden brown and crisp. Keep a close eye on them towards the end of the baking time as they can burn quickly. You want them to be crisp but not overly hard. Remove from the oven and let them cool completely on a wire rack. Cooling on a wire rack prevents the bottoms from becoming soggy.
Prepare the Cream Cheese Mixture: While the crostini are cooling, prepare the cream cheese topping. In a medium bowl, combine the softened cream cheese, chopped fresh dill, chopped fresh chives, chopped fresh parsley, lemon juice, garlic powder, salt, and freshly ground black pepper. Make sure the cream cheese is properly softened so it mixes smoothly with the other ingredients. If it’s still cold, it will be difficult to mix and may result in lumps.
Mix Thoroughly: Using a spatula or a hand mixer on low speed, mix all the ingredients together until well combined and smooth. Taste the mixture and adjust seasoning as needed. You might want to add a pinch more salt, pepper, or lemon juice depending on your preference. The flavor should be bright, herby, and well-balanced.
Slice the Cucumber: Thinly slice the cucumber using a sharp knife or a mandoline if you have one. Thin slices are ideal for topping the crostini and provide a delicate texture. If using a regular cucumber, you might want to peel it partially or fully depending on your preference and the thickness of the skin. For English or Persian cucumbers, peeling is usually unnecessary.
Assemble the Crostini: Once the crostini are completely cool, spread a generous amount of the herbed cream cheese mixture evenly onto each crostini. Don’t be shy with the cream cheese! A good layer provides a satisfying and flavorful base.
Top with Cucumber: Arrange 2-3 thin slices of cucumber on top of the cream cheese on each crostini. You can arrange them neatly in a row or slightly overlap them for visual appeal.
Garnish (Optional): If desired, garnish the crostini with fresh dill sprigs, extra thin slices of cucumber, or a sprinkle of red pepper flakes for a touch of color and added flavor. Garnishes elevate the presentation and make the crostini even more appealing.
Serve Immediately or Chill: Serve the Cucumber and Herb Cream Cheese Crostini immediately for the best crispness of the crostini. Alternatively, you can assemble them a little ahead of time and chill them in the refrigerator for up to an hour. If chilling, be aware that the crostini may soften slightly over time. If you are making them ahead of time for longer, it’s best to store the crostini and the cream cheese mixture separately and assemble just before serving to maintain the crispness.

Nutrition

Serving Size: one normal portion
Calories: 180
Fat: 12g