Winter Caprese Toasts with Roasted Tomatoes and Pesto

Winter Caprese Toasts with Roasted Tomatoes and Pesto

The holiday season is upon us, which means that it’s time for parties, social gatherings, and family events. While we all love celebrating the end of the year, these gatherings are all synonymous with menu planning, which can add stress to an already busy time. But what if you didn’t have to be worried about what to serve at a party? That’s where these winter caprese toasts with roasted tomatoes and pesto come in handy! These little appetizers are easy to assemble and are packed with the nutrition power of canned tomoes. Plus, you can get them on the party table in under 30 minutes, so what’s not to love? The only thing you should do is make extras, because these are sure to quickly disappear!

In the winter, canned tomatoes make the absolute best Caprese (tomato and mozzarella) salads because they are picked at the peak of ripeness and their summer flavor is locked in. (In fact, this is a secret that tomato growers have long been using to impress their party guests.) When you slow roast those canned tomatoes you concentrate their flavor even more as they become gorgeously browned and caramelized in the oven. Here, instead of being paired with mozzarella in a salad, those glorious tomatoes are piled onto crisp toasts spread with basil pesto for a flavor-packed party appetizer you can eat with your hands. As an alternative, you can skip the toast and layer everything into Bibb lettuce cups instead. While these Winter Caprese Toasts may be small, they are filled with irresistible flavor that everyone is sure to love!

Get the full recipe for Winter Caprese Toasts with Roasted Tomatoes and Pesto from Ellie Krieger, RDN.

Check out these other delicious recipes from Ellie:

Shakshuka Pita Pizzas
Creamy Tomato Soup with Popcorn

Tailgate Queso Dip

Tailgate Queso Dip

Tailgate Queso Dip

Spicy diced tomatoes with green chilies and lots of cheese are cooked and blended until cheese is melted for a quick, crowd-pleasing dip. Recipe courtesy of  Red Gold Tomatoes.

Ingredients

1 pound lean ground beef
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 (16 ounce) box mild Mexican processed cheese, cut into cubes
1 (15 ounce) can chili hot beans, drained
1/2 cup chopped green onions
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
2 (10 ounce) cans of Petite Diced Tomatoes & Green Chilies 

 

Directions

  • IN A LARGE SKILLET, BROWN GROUND BEEF AND GARLIC UNTIL BEEF IS THOROUGHLY COOKED, DRAIN WELL.
  • ADD PROCESSED CHEESE, BEANS AND ONION; STIR TO COMBINE.  HEAT MIXTURE UNTIL HOT AND CHEESE IS MELTED. BEFORE SERVING ADD CHEDDAR CHEESE AND PETITE DICED TOMATOES; STIR TO COMBINE.
  • OPTION: SERVE WITH PITA CHIPS OR VEGGIES OF YOUR CHOICE