Roasted Pear, Walnut & Honey Crostini Recipe
This Roasted Pear, Walnut & Honey Crostini recipe combines the sweetness of roasted pears with the creamy smoothness of ricotta cheese, topped with crunchy toasted walnuts and fragrant thyme honey. Perfect as an elegant appetizer or light snack, it’s quick to prepare using an air fryer and grill for toasting the baguette slices.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: 8-10 crostini 1x
- Category: Appetizer
- Method: Air Frying
- Cuisine: European
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
Scale
Fruit and Nuts
- 2 pears, peeled and cored, then cut into eighths
- 60g walnuts, toasted and roughly chopped
Dressings and Spreads
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tbsp apple cider vinegar, plus 1 tsp
- 2 tbsp honey
- 250g ricotta cheese
Herbs and Seasoning
- Small handful of thyme sprigs, leaves picked
- Salt and pepper, to season
Bread
- 1 large baguette, sliced on the diagonal
Instructions
- Prepare the pears: Peel, core, and cut the pears into eighths. Place them into a roasting tin suitable for an air fryer.
- Season the pears: Drizzle the olive oil, 1 tablespoon of apple cider vinegar, half of the honey, and most of the thyme leaves over the pears. Season with salt and pepper, then toss everything gently to coat evenly.
- Air fry the pears: Preheat the air fryer to 180°C (356°F). Roast the pears in the air fryer for 15-20 minutes until they are tender and lightly browned, stirring halfway through if needed.
- Prepare the ricotta spread: While pears roast, whisk the ricotta until smooth and creamy. Set aside in a bowl.
- Make the thyme honey dressing: Combine the remaining honey, 1 teaspoon of apple cider vinegar, and the reserved thyme leaves in a small bowl. Season lightly with salt and pepper.
- Toast the baguette slices: Place the baguette slices under a hot grill and toast both sides until golden and crisp. Allow to cool slightly before assembling.
- Assemble the crostini: Spread a generous layer of smooth ricotta on each toasted baguette slice. Top with the roasted pears, drizzle over any juices left in the roasting tin, scatter with toasted walnuts, and finish with a drizzle of the thyme honey dressing.
- Serve: Arrange the crostini on a platter and serve immediately as an elegant appetizer or snack.
Notes
- You can substitute the air fryer roasting with a conventional oven preheated to 180°C, roasting the pears for 20-25 minutes.
- For vegan variation, substitute ricotta with a plant-based soft cheese or cashew cream.
- Make sure to toast the walnuts separately to enhance their flavor.
- Adjust honey quantity based on desired sweetness.
- Store any leftover roasted pears and ricotta mixture separately in the refrigerator for up to 2 days.
Keywords: crostini, roasted pears, walnut appetizer, ricotta, honey, thyme, air fryer appetizers, easy party snacks
