Grilled Rainier Cherry Crostini

Skill level: Easy

We have a showstopping summer appetizer here featuring the ultimate crowd-pleaser: our Rainier cherries! Whipped ricotta and grilled cherries top a grilled crostini and then get garnished with a little honey and fresh basil to finish them off. This is the appetizer you'll be making all summer long, and it couldn’t be any easier!

Ingredients

• 1 loaf French bread
• 2 cups pitted Rainier cherries
• 1 ½ cups ricotta cheese
• 1 teaspoon honey
• Zest from one lemon
• 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon black pepper
• Basil for topping (torn or sliced thin)
• 1 tablespoon olive oil + more for brushing crostini

Directions

1. Preheat grill to medium heat
2. Add cherries to a bowl with one tablespoon olive oil, ½ teaspoon salt, and ½ teaspoon pepper and toss to combine.
3. Slice the bread into ½-inch thick pieces and brush olive oil on both sides of the crostini.
4. Place cherries into a vegetable basket for a grill or place onto aluminum foil. Place cherries onto the grill and cook for 10 minutes until cherries begin to soften and char slightly.
5. While cherries cook, add crostinis to the grill and char for 2-3 minutes per side.
6. Meanwhile, whip ricotta by adding ricotta cheese, lemon zest, lemon juice, honey, and salt and pepper to a stand mixer. Mix until creamy and smooth.
7. Remove cherries and bread from the grill and spread some whipped ricotta onto each crostini.
8. Add a spoonful of the grilled cherries on top of the ricotta, drizzle with extra honey, and garnish with fresh basil.
9. Serve immediately.

Recipe created by My Diary of Us for Superfresh Growers.