My favourite appetizer for easy warm-weather entertaining (Sweet Pea and Parmesan Tartines)

Part of my warm-weather entertaining manifesto is to keep my gatherings as simple as possible. This encompasses everything from table décor to beverages, and most importantly, food. We host several dinners and social soirées in the spring and summer months, and I’m always on the look out for easy-to-execute lip-smacking appetizers that deliver impressive tastes to my guests. Luckily, these tartines fit the bill perfectly.

While the name sounds highly impressive, tartines (or crostinis) are really nothing more than slices of toasted/grilled bread topped with a little something. It can be as simple as store-bought jam and a slice of aged cheddar, assorted spreads, cured meats, or fresh produce that’s paired with fragrant herbs and oils.

I typically opt for the latter, and they are almost always the highlight of the meal. Lightly buttered bread is usually grilled, rubbed with garlic and then covered with a variety of toppings. For spring, I’m smitten with the combination of sweet peas, Parmesan and mint, but you can use pretty much anything that’s in season.

Pea Crostini

Some of the other flavor combinations that I’m partial to include:

  • Chopped ripe avocado dressed up with a squeeze of fresh lime juice, sea salt, olive oil, and red pepper flakes.
  • Sweet tomatoes tossed with olive oil, fresh basil and baby bocconcini cheese.
  • A smear of goat cheese blanketed with roasted mushrooms and fresh chopped tarragon.
  • Soft unsalted butter topped with crisp radish slices, sea salt, and a sprinkling of chives.
  • Slow roasted cherry tomatoes, with fresh ricotta.

There is no real recipe for the ideas I’ve listed above; just use what you have on hand and adjust the seasonings to taste.

I’m a collector of back-pocket recipe ideas, the ones I can turn to time again for inspiration and success, and this one is currently sitting within easy reach. I wouldn’t hesitate to make a platter of these just for dinner, date-night, or even an easy lunch, in addition to serving them with a glass of sangria for my favorite visitors in the coming months.

Pea Crostini 2

Sweet Pea, Parmesan and Mint Tartines

If you aren’t partial to mint, feel free to replace it with fresh basil, dill, or lemon zest. To make the recipe vegan, omit the Parmesan and adjust the seasonings to taste.
3 from 2 votes
Print Pin Rate
Course: Appetizer
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 5 minutes
Total Time: 20 minutes
Servings: 20 pieces
Calories: 91kcal
Author: Jan

Ingredients

  • 1 baguette cut into 1/4” slices
  • 1 clove garlic halved
  • 2 1/2 cups fresh peas or frozen
  • 1/3 cup olive oil + extra for brushing the bread
  • 1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
  • 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon pepper
  • 2-3 mint leaves torn

Instructions

  • Preheat your grill to medium-high heat. Brush both sides of your bread slices with the olive oil and cook until golden brown, 1-2 minutes per side. Transfer the bread to a cutting board and rub each piece with the cut sides of the garlic.
  • Blanch peas in a pot of boiling salted water, just until tender, approximately 1 minute for frozen peas and 2 minutes for fresh. Drain well.
  • Transfer the peas to the bowl of a food processor and add the olive oil, Parmesan, salt, pepper, and mint leaves. Pulse until the purée reaches the desired consistency. For a chunkier spread it will only need five or six turns in the processor, for a smoother one 10-12 pulses should be enough.
  • Spread 2-3 tablespoons of the pea purée over each toast. Garnish with additional Parmesan, torn mint leaves, and sea salt, if desired.

Nutrition

Calories: 91kcal | Carbohydrates: 9g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 4g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 2mg | Sodium: 174mg | Potassium: 61mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 165IU | Vitamin C: 7.3mg | Calcium: 42mg | Iron: 0.7mg

 

What are your go-to appetizers for warm-weather entertaining??

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28 Comments

  1. Jan,

    The fresh color of these snacks is so pretty. I’m envisioning a fall tartine with a base of roasted winter squash, or a summer one with a base of grilled summer squash . . . what a great idea to keep in my back pocket.

    Thank you!

  2. Just this weekend I challenged myself to entertain more often. Every time I do, I love it and remember what a joy it is to feed friends and family, but I just don’t do it enough. So, this recipe is timely – adding it to my entertaining menu, which I’m going to be putting to use a lot this summer. The mint sounds delightful!!

    1. What a great challenge! I love having people over to eat, as well, and I think you’ll find any kind of tartine or crostini makes an excellent appetizer, even for the kids.

  3. Thank you! This is such a simple, yet spectacular appatizer! Can hardly wait to make it. I’m in Naples right now and the default appetizer is mozzarela, cherry tomatoes and basil leaves (plus olive oild of course); simple and delicisous as well…

    All the best!

  4. I usually let the kids munch on raw veggies, or sometimes chips. These are a much more elegant yet simple option. We’re keen on avocados too. Thanks for all the wonderful ideas.

  5. Amen! I feel like not only should warm weather entertaining be simple, but so should regular family dinners. I’m turning to my crockpot and my grill a LOT these days to avoid standing over the stove or heating up the kitchen by using the oven. 🙂

  6. I made something like this once for a party, and it went over very well. And that green colour is so gorgeous, people can’t help but be drawn to it! Love the idea of tartines in general.

  7. Do you happen to have any real good gluten free recipes? I have Celiac and can’t eat gluten or wheat thanks:)

  8. 1 star
    I’m sorry to post a poor review, but I made these for Easter, thinking they would be a nice “Springy” appetizer. A friend had served a similar pea-crositini appetizer that I loved, so I was really expecting to like this recipe. Unfortunately, we all found these to have a very strange flavor. I don’t recall tasting mint in my friend’s recipe, so perhaps that it what threw this “off” for us. I don’t normally post poor reviews, but I always appreciate others’ candid reviews when looking for recipes online. I would suggest trying these out before serving at a gathering. Sorry!