walnut bruschette with goat cheese / bruschette alle noci e formaggio di capra

By stancec44

Bruschetta makes an easy and delicious appetizer. In this version, the heat of quickly cooked radicchio softens the goat cheese just a bit for a luscious mouthful. If walnut bread is unavailable, use a whole-wheat baguette, then sprinkle finished bruschette with lightly toasted chopped walnuts. Olive bread is another nice alternative.

Ingredients

• 1 loaf walnut bread or baguette
• 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
• 1 pound radicchio, coarsely chopped
• 1/4 teaspoon fine sea salt
• Freshly ground black pepper
• 10 ounces soft goat cheese, at room temperature, cut into 24 pieces

Preparation

Step 1

Heat oven to 350º.

Slice bread into 24 pieces, each 1/3-inch thick. Arrange on a baking sheet. Bake in oven until lightly toasted, 8 to 10 minutes. Let toasts cool on pan on a wire rack.

Meanwhile, in a large skillet, heat oil over medium-high heat until hot but not smoking; add radicchio, salt and generous pinch pepper. Cook, stirring frequently, until radicchio is tender, 3 to 5 minutes. Remove pan from heat.

Arrange toasts on serving plates. Top with radicchio and cheese.