Sunday, August 26, 2012

Avocado and Salmon Crostini with Vanilla Salt


I feel as though I have disappointed these crostini.  They look all gussied up and festive with their creamy green spread, vibrant red and purple radish slices and that pink salmon.  They totally thought they were going to some swanky coctail party, to be nibbled on between sips of wine and cheerful cocktail chatter.  But instead we made these on a Sunday afternoon, greedily keeping them all to ourselves and in an atmosphere of pure comfort.  They were disappointed.  But not us.  

Ingredients
1 baguette, sliced
olive oil
vanilla salt*
freshly ground black pepper

1 ripe avocado, pitted
3 tablespoons grapefruit juice
1/2 teaspoon grapefruit zest
1/4 teaspoon vanilla salt
dash black pepper

handful of radishes, sliced thinly
6 ounces smoked salmon
1/4 cup chopped chives

*Vanilla Salt:
1 vanilla bean, split in half
1 cup kosher salt

Instructions
For the vanilla salt: Place salt and vanilla bean in airtight container for at least a week.

Heat oven to 375.  Place the baguette slices on a baking sheet (I used a Silpat to line mine).  Pour olive oil in a bowl, and brush the oil on each slice.  Sprinkle a bit of salt and pepper on each.  Bake for 8-10 minutes or until golden-brown.

Mash the avocado, grapefruit juice, grapefruit zest, salt, and pepper together in a bowl.  Spread on each toasted baguette slice.  Then top with one or two slices of radish, smoked salmon, then a sprinkling of chives.


45 comments:

  1. Jenn, these look absolutely scrumptious and your photos are beautiful - so sharp and love, love, love the simple styling and angles!! Gorgeous x

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  2. They do look fancy!!! But there's nothing wrong with having a little class & elegance at home ;)

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  3. They look scrumptious!(It's good to be greedy sometimes.) :D

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  4. That vanilla salt sounds interesting. Do not apologize for scarfing these down yourselves! They look fabulous!

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  5. I love how you use smoked salmon on these! Yum!

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  6. I adore these little bites and am diggin' the salmon + avocado pairing ;)

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  7. wow amazing for a party or wedding so gourmet

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  8. How pretty! I bet these were snapped up in seconds.

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  9. So gorgeous and elegant. Who needs dinner with a plate of these beauties?

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  10. These are amazing! Great combination of flavors and textures, and the vanilla salt is an unusual touch. IN this house we would have had to make a double batch because you can be sure that a major scarf would take place before any party these would be served at. Truly scrumptious.

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  11. I would've totally kept these for myself too!

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  12. What a great flavor combination! Those crostini look beautiful and so delicious. Marvelous!

    Cheers,

    Rosa

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  13. These look so good! I love avacodos and am always looking for new ways to eat them!

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  14. These look fabulous, I can see why you kept them to yourself :)

    Cheers
    Choc Chip Uru

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  15. Poor little crostini! All dressed up and nowhere to go but your bellies! But honestly...I would have done the same thing. :)

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  16. The vanilla salt is such in intriguing addition here! Very creative.

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  17. This looks and sounds so fancy! Would love to eat them!

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  18. Mmmm that creamy avocado looks fabulous! Very jealous of your sunday afternoon :) Sounds like the perfect end to your weekend!

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  19. Well, they were made to please you so they fulfilled their purpose and they look totally delicious!

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  20. These look amazing! I've heard that vanilla is meant to be good with fish so vanilla salt sounds amazing.

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  21. These are so pretty! Definitely perfect for a party, even if it's at home on a Saturday afternoon! :)

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  22. Yum! Definitely look fancy but I agree, perfect to keep for yourselves :)

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  23. Oh dear. Those are super fancy. But I think the crostini can live with a little disappointment.

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  24. They look beautiful!What a great appetizer or an afternoon snack :)

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  25. The crostini are beautiful, but I am taken with the idea of the vanilla salt.

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  26. Strikingly beautiful! That's what first came to my mind when I saw these crostini. And ah, vanilla salt?!?!?!? You had me at hello! :D

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  27. What amazing flavors! I don't blame you one bit for keeping them to yourself!

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  28. They look so gorgeous! I'm not surprised at all that these are all gone before the party :D

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  29. Fantastic! I love all the colors. There is no shame in making fancy food and eating it all yourself!

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  30. Your flavor combinations amaze me. These look and sound amazing. I would have been greedy if I were you, too.

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  31. You are right, they look so fancy and cocktail party type :-) Never heard of vanilla salt....I do vanilla sugar at home...need to try the salt now :-)

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  32. oh wow, these are so creative! I'm so intrigued by the vanilla salt :)

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  33. All those colors are gorgeous, super fancy :P Definitely intrigued by the use of vanilla salt as a finishing accent.

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  34. I LOVE your writing in this post. They really do look fancy and it made me think of getting all dressed up but then having to stay home. Really well done!

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  35. This is very impressive crostini. The ingredients on the bread is rather simple but the combination is very creative! I have to try vanila salt. How did you come up with such a great idea. These will go really fast for sure in my household.

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  36. You can't go wrong with crostinis, they are such a wonderful appetizer and your look beautiful. I have got to try making that vanilla salt, I am intrigued.

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  37. i'm interested in learning a little more about the vanilla salt - what a combo, and with everything else too!

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  38. OMG! Amazing pictures! These crostini look so beautiful, colorful and refreshing. And I love the combination of ingredients; so unique and creative. Well done :)

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  39. These are really scrumptious! I'm not sure you disappointed your crostini!!!

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  40. These are gorgeous, and I'd happily eat them at a swanky event or in front of my TV. What terrific flavors!

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  41. What perfect little bites, I love crostini!

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  42. I prepared this crostini few days ago and it was delicious. I used orange juice instead of grapefruit. Thank you very much for the recipe!

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