Crostini with Balsamic Caramelized Onions, Melted Cheese & Sage Recipe

A little sweet, a little savory - these crostini with caramelized onions and melted cheese are the perfect comfort food appetizers.

Crostini with Balsamic Caramelized Onions, Melted Cheese & Sage Recipe

One can never have too many appetizer or hors d'oeuvres recipes. With football and hockey (I am Canadian, after all) seasons in full swing and the holidays just around the corner, I am working on filling out my appetizer recipe box, particularly with easy recipes that require few ingredients. Fewer trips to the grocery store during holiday madness makes for a much happier "me". This recipe of caramelized onions, sage and melted cheese requires items that are found in most pantries and refrigerators. Pop into the bakery for a fresh baguette, caramelize the onions ahead of time, pour a glass of wine and you are on your way to a low-stress cocktail or Sunday football party.

I discovered the sweet and savory flavor of balsamic caramelized onions a couple of years ago. The depth of flavor comes from the sweetness of the onions mixed with the slight acidity of balsamic vinegar. I put them in everything from soup (Tortellini Soup with Balsamic Caramelized Onions & Mushrooms - seriously good) to vegetarian stews (Crockpot Chickpea Stew with Caramelized Onions) and salads (Mushroom, Caramelized Onion & Cannellini Bean Salad - one of my favorite lunches).

The recipe:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

Place baguette slices on a baking sheet and brush with about 2 tablespoons olive oil. Bake until lightly toasted, about 5 minutes. Set aside.

For the onions, heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the onions and cook until softened, about 15 minutes.

Stir in brown sugar. Cover and cook until the onions are golden brown, about 20 minutes, stirring occasionally.

Add ¼ cup water, cover the pan again and cook until the onions are deep golden brown, about 15 minutes.

Stir in balsamic vinegar, salt, sage and an additional ¼ cup water. Cover the pan and cook until the liquid is absorbed. Remove from heat.

Using a vegetable peeler, shave off Pecorino Romano slices, one for each baguette slice.

Divide the caramelized onions between the baguette slices and top each one with a slice of cheese.

Place in oven and bake until cheese is beginning to melt, 3 to 4 minutes. Serve.

Other hors d'oeuvres/appetizers with caramelized onions:
Cookin' Canuck's (guest post on White on Rice Couple) Pancetta, Caramelized Onion Puff Pastry "Ravioli"
Cookin' Canuck's Brie Cheese & Caramelized Onion Whole Wheat Flatbread
Guilty Kitchen's Caramelized Onion Dip
Brown Eyed Baker's Onion, Mushroom & Gruyere Tartlets
Good Eats 'n Sweet Treats' Caramelized Onion Cranberry Cream Cheese Bites

Printable Recipe

Crostini with Caramelized Onions, Melted Cheese & Sage

A little sweet, a little savory - these crostini with caramelized onions and melted cheese are the perfect comfort food appetizers.

5 from 1 vote

Print Pin Rate

Course: Appetizers

Cuisine: Italian

Keyword: Healthy Appetizers

Prep Time: 15 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 40 minutes minutes

Total Time: 55 minutes minutes

Servings: 24 Crostini

Calories: 66kcal

Author: Dara Michalski | Cookin' Canuck

Ingredients

• 1 baguette cut on diagonal into ½-inch slices
• 3 tablespoons olive oil divided
• 3 large yellow onions peeled and sliced thinly into semicircles
• 1 tablespoon brown sugar
• ½ cup water divided
• 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
• ½ teaspoon kosher salt
• 1 tablespoon minced fresh sage
• 3 ounces Pecorino Romano cheese

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Instructions

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
• Place baguette slices on a baking sheet and brush with about 2 tablespoons olive oil. Bake until lightly toasted, about 5 minutes. Set aside.
• For the onions, heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat.
• Add the onions and cook until softened, about 15 minutes.
• Stir in brown sugar. Cover and cook until the onions are golden brown, about 20 minutes, stirring occasionally.
• Add ¼ cup water, cover the pan again and cook until the onions are deep golden brown, about 15 minutes.
• Stir in balsamic vinegar, salt, sage and an additional ¼ cup water. Cover the pan and cook until the liquid is absorbed. Remove from heat.
• Using a vegetable peeler, shave off Pecorino Romano slices, one for each baguette slice.
• Divide the caramelized onions between the baguette slices and top each one with a slice of cheese.
• Place in oven and bake until cheese is beginning to melt, 3 to 4 minutes. Serve.

Nutrition

Serving: 1Crostino | Calories: 66kcal | Carbohydrates: 7g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 3g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 4mg | Sodium: 156mg | Potassium: 35mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 15IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 51mg | Iron: 0.4mg

Tried this recipe?If you make this recipe, I'd love to see it on Instagram! Just use the hashtag #COOKINCANUCK and I'll be sure to find it.

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