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Crostini with Balsamic Caramelized Onions, Melted Cheese & Sage Recipe

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

Car Onion Canape 1

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 1/4 cup water, cover the pan again and cook until the onions are deep golden brown, about 15 minutes.

Car Onion Canape Collage

Stir in balsamic vinegar, salt, sage and an additional 1/4 cup water. Cover the pan and cook until the liquid is absorbed. Remove from heat.

CarOnionCanape4

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.

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

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

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.
Print Pin Rate
Course: Appetizers
Cuisine: Italian
Keyword: Healthy Appetizers
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 40 minutes
Total Time: 55 minutes
Servings: 24 Crostini
Calories: 66kcal
Author: Dara Michalski | Cookin' Canuck

Ingredients

  • 1 baguette cut on diagonal into 1/2-inch slices
  • 3 tablespoons olive oil divided
  • 3 large yellow onions peeled and sliced thinly into semicircles
  • 1 tablespoon brown sugar
  • 1/2 cup water divided
  • 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
  • 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 1 tablespoon minced fresh sage
  • 3 ounces Pecorino Romano cheese

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.

Disclosure: I am a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for me to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.

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Comments

  12. Barbara | Creative Culinary

    I love balsamic caramelized onions too. I cook a whole bag of onions overnight in the crockpot to have on hand for assorted goodies; soups, eggs and appetizers. The original recipe for crockpot cooking did not call for balsamic vinegar but it’s my standard that I add to mine when I cook them on the stovetop so of course I did. I am not kidding when I say I could simply eat a bowl of caramelized onions so of course this appetizer is just perfect for me!

    Reply

    • Dara (Cookin' Canuck)

      That’s a great idea, Barb. Caramelized onions add a wonderful flavor to soups, salad, sandwiches, etc. and it never hurts to have extras on hand.

      Reply

  13. Sara

    Making these tonight!! Quick question- you said you can caramelize them ahead of time- do you have a tip on the best way to reheat the onions before you put the crostinis together, or do they heat up in the oven when you’re melting the cheese?

    Reply

    • Dara (Cookin' Canuck)

      Sara, reheat the onions in a medium skillet set over low heat before transferring them to the crostini. I hope you enjoy them!

      Reply

  14. Curt

    Wow, how did I miss this awesome recipe yesterday? You’re one of my favorite blogs. I was pretty distracted yesterday and missed a few.

    This is my kind of food!

    Reply

    • Dara (Cookin' Canuck)

      Curt, thanks so much for your kind comment. Don’t feel badly – the post didn’t go up until late last night.

      Reply

  26. Monet

    What a great way to start a party! This looks so good…and I’m so glad that my arm is better and I can visit and comment again! Thank you for being such an inspiration. Your words, recipes and photos…yum, yum, yum! Blessings from Austin

    Reply

  27. Tori

    This looks perfect for the next gathering I have. I love how the recipe seems very deep in flavor but very simple to make (my style!).

    Reply

  28. Nann......At Nann's Table

    Wow do these ever look delicious. I’m printing this fabulous recipe because both we would love it. You have a delightful blog. So glad I came. I am a new blogger of just 6 weeks and have so enjoyed finding other incredibly wonderful blogs like yours.

    Nann

    Reply

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