Fresh & Easy App: Spring Pea Crostini with Mint

Nothing tastes more like springtime than fresh peas! They are in markets RIGHT NOW and make the perfect base for a fresh & easy app. Fear not, fresh peas bear little to no resemblance to the grey mush served from a can that you may recall from your childhood. These seasonal gems taste light, bright and delicious!

Best yet? This appetizer takes less than 10 minutes to prepare; making it a slam-dunk for all those spring “bring an app” events that you have on the calendar.

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I was able to find fresh English peas locally at both Trader Joes’s and Miles Farmer’s Market. If you happen to miss their very short season, frozen peas can also be used in this recipe.

Spring Pea Crostini with Mint

Ingredient List

• Baguette crisps
• 1 cup fresh or frozen peas, thawed
• 1/4 cup roughly chopped mint
• 1/2 teaspoon Kosher salt
• 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
• Mascarpone cheese
• Shaved Parmesan
• A few drops of balsamic vinegar

Preparation Instructions

• Blanch peas in a large saucepan of boiling water, about 2 minutes for fresh or 1 minute for frozen. Blanching not only tenderizes the peas but helps bring out the bright green color that makes them so perfect for this spring-y app!
• Drain peas; transfer to food processor. Add mint, salt, olive oil and PULSE until blended but portions of fully formed peas remain. Do not puree or over-process! Test for seasoning and add more salt if needed.

• Prep baguette crisps by spreading with Mascarpone cheese. TIP: A garlic-herb cheese like Boursin would also work well as a base. I used milder Mascarpone as I wanted to keep focus on the pea/mint flavor.

• Top each cheese coated crisp with about a half teaspoon of pea mixture.
• Garnish with a slice of shaved Parmesan and a drop or two of balsamic vinegar. TIP: Pour your balsamic vinegar into a small cup or ramekin and then use an eyedropper to dispense just a single drop or two onto the top of the cracker.

I like using baguette crisps because they are convenient and the perfect “single-bite” size. If you like bigger crostini or just prefer to make your own, cut a day-old baguette into slices. Brush both sides of each slice with olive oil. Grill or cook on a stove-top grill pan for a minute or two on each side, or until crisp and golden.

Fresh & Easy App Variations

Italian Pesto Style Spring Pea Crostini

Replace the mint with basil and add 1/4 to 1/3 cup Parmesan and half teaspoon minced garlic to the mixture before processing. Top with half of a grape tomato for garnish.

Dill & Feta Spring Pea Crostini

Reduce oil to 1 tablespoon and add 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice. Replace mint with dill and add 1/4 to 1/3 cup feta cheese and 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes to mixture before processing.

Have a great weekend and Happy Mother’s Day to all the mom’s out there. Until next time….keep cultivating that simple, stylish and satisfying life!