Black and Green Tapenade with Goat Cheese Crostini
Crostini Recipes - Oven-Dried Tomato Recipe - Tapenade Recipe

This recipe and photo are courtesy of Chef Wolfgang Puck, owner of the Beverly Hills restaurant called Spago.

More of Linda's delicious Appetizer Recipes for more great appetizer ideas.
 

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.

Make Olive Tapenade, make Oven-Dried Tomatoes, Crostini, and  make Herbed Goat Cheese; set all aside until ready to assemble.

TO ASSEMBLE:  On each of the Crostini, spread some Olive Tapenade, 1 tablespoon Herbed Goat Cheese, and top with 1 teaspoon Olive Tapenade.

In a food processor, combine all the ingredients, except the olive oil. Using the pulse button, process until coarsely chopped and well blended. Continue to process, slowly adding the olive oil.

Refrigerate in a covered container until ready to use.

OVEN-DRIED TOMATOES:
Check out my web page on making Slow-Roasted Tomatoes

12 medium Roma tomatoes (2 pounds)
1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil, plus additional as needed
1 teaspoon minced fresh thyme leaves
6 garlic cloves, crushed
1/2 teaspoon coarse salt
1/4 teaspoon-freshly ground black pepper  
1/2 teaspoon granulated sugar

Preheat oven to 250 degrees F. In a pot of boiling water, blanch tomatoes. Drain and refresh in ice water. Drain. Peel, core, cut into quarters, and remove seeds.

Line a baking sheet with parchment paper; arrange the tomato quarters on the baking sheet, cut side down. Drizzle generously with olive oil. Sprinkle with thyme and garlic.

In a small bowl, combine salt, pepper and sugar; sprinkle evenly over the tomatoes.

Bake until the tomatoes begin to shrivel, approximately 1 hour. When the tomatoes are cool enough to handle, transfer to a container. Pour olive oil over and cover the container. Refrigerate and use as needed.

Yield: 1 1/4 cups.


CROSTINI:
1 loaf crusty French bread, cut into slices on a bias
Extra-virgin olive oil
1/2 garlic clove

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

Arrange the bread slices on a baking sheet. Brush with olive oil and bake approximately 6 to 8 minutes. Remove from oven and very lightly rub the toasted bread with the cut side of the garlic clove. Allow to cool before adding toppings.
 

HERBED GOAT CHEESE:
2 teaspoons chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley leaves
2 teaspoons chopped fresh chives
1 teaspoon chopped fresh thyme
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1 (7 or 8-ounce) log goat cheese

Combine the parsley, chives, thyme, and pepper and place on a flat surface.

Roll the log of cheese in the mixture, coating all sides and retaining the shape of the log.

Wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate until needed.