Whip up these delicious watermelon and goat cheese phyllo cups in about 15 minutes. They’re perfect for easy entertaining! Thank you to Restaurantware for helping me to share this recipe with you.
If I come back from a vacation with at least one great recipe (and a lot of memories, of course), I feel like I’ve scored. Last week, my boys and I headed to Victoria, B.C. (the homeland!) to visit my parents. More on that in another post (but feel free to check out my Instagram account for a few photos).
On one of the days, we took a day trip over to Vancouver to do a whirlwind visit with a few friends. At our dinnertime visit, our friends fed us a beautiful meal, which included a surprising and delicious watermelon and goat cheese crostini. With the first bite, my kids were hooked and couldn’t stop talking about the sweet and savory appetizer for days.
Just a few days later, I took a shot at recreating the crostini for my parents and a few of their friends. I made a huge platter full of the appetizers and, by the end of our happy hour, there wasn’t a single morsel left. When I made the recipe again at home, I decided to switch out the toasted baguette slices with mini phyllo shells, which are always in full supply in our freezer. It took me about 15 minutes and not a single minute of actual cooking to make the phyllo bites. Perfect for last minute entertaining!
Cocktail and appetizer parties are my favorite way to entertain. Lots of bits and bites, with plenty of flavor variations. I could happily eat that way everyday. When I’m serving on the patio, the last thing I want to worry about is broken dishes. And really, who wants to deal with a hostess who sucks in her breath every time a less-then-coordination person picks up a treasured plate?!
Pictured: mini bamboo spoon
When I learned about Restaurantware and their collection of bamboo dishes and utensils, I knew my dish dilemma was solved. not only are the bamboo dishes unbreakable when dropped, but they are also biodegradable, making an environmentally friendly option when you don’t want to deal with cleaning dishes at the end of a meal or party. And really, how adorable are the bamboo round small plates (only 3 1/2 inches wide!)?! They’d be perfect for any bites-sized appetizers or even mini desserts.
The bamboo collection includes everything from plates, bowls and cones to spoons and skewers. My mind started working overtime when I looked through their site. Surely I can pull off a cocktail party at least five times per week just so I can use all of their dishes, right?!
Pictured: bamboo leaf rectangular plate and bamboo round small plate
In the meantime, I’ll happily make these mini phyllo bites over and over again. My boys wouldn’t have it any other way!
[Tweet “Whip up these Watermelon and Goat Cheese Crostini in 15 minutes! via @cookincanuck https://www.cookincanuck.com/2015/07/watermelon-goat-cheese-basil-phyllo-bites-recipe”]
Other healthy summertime appetizers:
Cookin’ Canuck’s Baked Zucchini Fries with Pesto Yogurt Dipping Sauce
Cookin’ Canuck’s Mini Avocado & Hummus Quesadillas
My Bottomless Ex-Boyfriend’s Fresh Mango Peach Salsa
Eat Spin Run Repeat’s Salmon Cucumber Rolls
Watermelon, Goat Cheese & Basil Phyllo Bites Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 cup diced watermelon
- 3/4 teaspoon olive oil
- 1/2 teaspoon balsamic vinegar
- 1/2 teaspoon agave nectar or honey
- 1/8 teaspoon salt
- 4 leaves basil thinly sliced
- 15 mini phyllo shells such as Athens, defrosted
- 1 3/4 ounces goat cheese chevre
Instructions
- In a medium bowl, stir together the watermelon, olive oil, balsamic vinegar, agave nectar, salt and basil.
- Fill each phyllo shell with ½ teaspoon goat and 1 rounded teaspoon of the watermelon mixture, straining out the extra liquid from the watermelon so that the phyllo shells don't get soggy.
- Serve.
Notes
Nutrition
Disclosure: This post is sponsored by Restaurantware.com. I happen to be coveting about 75% of the items on their website. All opinions are my own.
Amy @Very Culinary says
What a perfect summer app! I’m a sucker for anything with balsamic. And goat cheese. And those plates are super cute!
Liz says
Thank you Dara. These sound nice.
Martha @ A Family Feast says
Isn’t it fun to ‘extend’ a vacation by recreating a dish at home that you enjoyed on your trip? I can totally see why you loved this recipe!
Aggie | Aggie's Kitchen says
I love recipes inspired by vacations! This little appetizer is so perfect for summer!
Marisa Franca @ All Our Way says
I’m with you! I love the little bites and you get different sample tastes. This really sounds refreshing. Can’t wait to make it!!
Diana M. says
I need to make these appetizers! Watermelon and feta salad is a favorite here, so I’m guessing we would love watermelon with goat cheese bites just as much. And that mini bamboo plate is so cute!
Angie | Big Bear's Wife says
Glad you had such a great time on vacation and got to spend time with your parents too! Loving those little bamboo plates and these phyllo bites! They’re so pretty!
Kim Taylor says
I’ve been looking for bamboo plates, so this post came at the right time! Your watermelon appetizers sound like a great idea for summer cocktail parties.
Barbara | Creative Culinary says
Perfect timing Dara…I have the watermelon and it’s a great one and I’m having some friends over this weekend; I know they’ll love these!
Stephanie says
The perfect summer appetizer! They are so pretty too!
Alice @ Hip Foodie Mom says
love the watermelon here!!! what a great idea!
[email protected] says
All of your light bites are always simple and beautiful at the same time! Love those bamboo plates!
Lauren Kelly Nutrition says
I seriously love everything about this! Phyllo dough is my favorite!
Ashley @ Wishes & DIshes says
I Love getting ideas for dishes to make while on vacation! I try to write them all down. Getting around to them is another story 🙂 Love this!
Annamaria @ Bakewell Junction says
Dara,
These look delicious. I love all the ingredients individually and they must be fantastic together.
Annamaria
Taylor @ Food Faith Fitness says
So jealous that you got to go back to Vancouver! I’m going in a few weeks, and i can’t wait!
These bites though? They sound so fresh and tasty! I love bamboo dinnerware – so sturdy yet chic! Pinned!
Lana | Never Enough Thyme says
I’m imagining that combination of watermelon, goat cheese, basil, and balsamic and my mouth is literally watering. Lovely small bite and very lovely bamboo ware!
Carolyn says
Those are lovely, Dara. What a cute little appetizer! And I do love the restaurant ware items.
Heather | girlichef says
I absolutely adore bamboo plates and silverware for picnics and outdoor parties – so pretty and yet so functional (but yeah, disposable is the best part). These little bites sounds scrumptious!
Jen and Emily @ Layers of Happiness says
These are the cutest little phyllo bites I ever did see… I love all those fresh flavors mixed with that creamy goat cheese – so dreamy!
Jennie @onesweetmess says
These are the cutest little summer phyllo cups. Love the flavor combo. Pinned.
missymops says
I never would have thought to put goat cheese with watermelon, but now I need to try it! Those bamboo plates are downright adorable. We host a big Labor Day party at our day every year and I’m thinking of ordering a bunch of the bamboo plates to make my life easier.