Crostini with Fig Walnut Jam & Brie
This crostini with fig walnut jam and brie is the perfect accompaniment to a holiday cheese board. It is sure to be a crowd pleaser and it’s super easy to prepare.
Thank you to California Walnuts for sponsoring this blog post. All opinions are my own.
When it comes to preparing meals for the holidays, the appetizers are my favorite part. They really set the tone for the meal. If the appetizers are good, you know that the rest of the meal is most likely going to be good as well. I’ve been incorporating walnuts into my meals as much as I can because they have so many nutritional benefits and they are super flavorful as well. This fig walnut jam has a little sweetness from figs and honey, and the walnuts a butteriness that pairs so perfectly with brie.
Why Did We Use Dried Figs?
I chose dried California figs for this recipe because they are pretty easy to find in stores. But fresh figs are seasonal. I want you to be able to make this jam any time of the year! I have not tested this recipe with fresh figs since they are out of season, so I am not sure how they would work. The dried figs are super tasty though.
Why Walnuts?
In recent years, the number of studies describing the health-promoting benefits of omega-3 fatty acids have increased substantially, primarily in the area of heart health.1
Walnuts contain the plant-based source of omega-3 called alpha linolenic acid (or ALA). As the only nut significantly high in omega-3 ALA (2.5g per one ounce), the best way to get more ALA into your diet is to start with walnuts.
How to Make Fig Walnut Jam
It’s so easy. The first thing you want to do is add the honey, lemon juice, and water into a medium sized saucepan. Bring this mixture to a boil, reduce heat to medium and simmer for 5-7 minutes. While that is going on, add the figs to a food processor and blender and chop them into small pieces. Then add them to the honey mixture, reduce the heat to low and simmer for 15-20 minutes or until the water is absorbed. While the mixture is simmering, roughly chop the walnuts.
How to Make Crostini’s
Slice your bread ½” thick. Then brush with olive oil, and season with salt and pepper. Bake on 425 F for 10-15 minutes or until your bread is crispy.
I love these crostinis with fig and walnut jam because you can make them before your dinner party and they will still taste good. I also recommend preparing the fig jam a day in advance and refrigerating it.
Crostini with Fig Walnut Jam & Brie
ingredients:
- 1/3 cup honey
- 1 tbsp lemon juice
- 1 ¼ cups water
- 7 oz California figs
- ¾ cup California walnuts
- 1 loaf of ciabatta bread
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- Salt & pepper to taste
- Brie for serving
instructions:
How to cook Crostini with Fig Walnut Jam & Brie
- Add the honey, lemon juice and water to a medium saucepan. Bring to a boil and then reduce the heat to medium. Simmer for 5-7 minutes. While the honey mixture is simmering, place the figs in a food processor or blender and chop them into small pieces (make sure the stems are removed).
- Once the honey mixture thickens a little, reduce the heat to low and stir in the figs. Simmer for 15-20 minutes or until the liquid is absorbed. While the jam is simmering, roughly chop the walnuts. Remove the jam from the heat after its done simmering, and then stir in the walnuts. Store in a jar in the fridge.
- Preheat oven to 425F. Cut the ciabatta ½” thick. Place crostinis on a baking sheet and brush with olive oil. Then season lightly with salt and pepper. Bake for 10-15 minutes.
- Layer your crostini with brie and then fig jam and serve.
1Fleming JA, Kris-Etherton PM. The evidence for α-linolenic acid and cardiovascular disease benefits: comparisons with eicosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid. Adv Nutr. 2014;5(6):863S-76S.