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Easy Vegan Mushroom Crostini

These festive vegan mushroom crostini recipe is an easy and impressive-looking appetizer perfect for your vegan Thanksgiving or Christmas menu.
Course Appetizer
Cuisine American, European
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Servings 12 crostini or 6 servings
Calories 109kcal
Cost $6

Ingredients

For the crostini:

  • 2 tablespoons olive oil divided
  • 1 large onion
  • 1 teaspoon sugar
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • 2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
  • 1 lb or 450 g cremini mushrooms or other mushrooms of your choice (see notes)
  • 3-4 sprigs thyme divided (or 1 teaspoon dried thyme + 1 sprig fresh thyme to garnish)
  • 2-3 cloves garlic minced
  • ½ crusty baguette can be stale, see notes
  • ¾ cup vegan mozzarella shreds for alternatives, see notes
  • Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste

For the balsamic-Dijon dressing (makes ½ cup):

Instructions

Prep the Onions and Mushrooms

  • To start with, cut the onion in half and slice. Slice the mushrooms. If they are too big, cut in half and slice.

Make Quick Caramelized Onions

  • Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a large skillet (cast iron or nonstick) over medium high heat. Add the onions and stir fry for about 2-3 minutes until translucent. Add sugar, salt and balsamic vinegar and reduce the heat to medium. Continue cooking for 5 more minutes or until softened.

Cook the Mushrooms

  • Add sliced mushrooms to the onions and increase the heat to medium high. Wait until they release liquid and cook, stirring occasionally, until the liquid is evaporated and mushrooms start to brown, for about 8 minutes.
  • Add minced garlic and 2 sprigs thyme (stems removed) or 1 teaspoon dried thyme and cook for 2 more minutes.

Toast the Baguette

  • Preheat the oven to 400 F or 200 C. Slice the baguette straight across if you prefer smaller crostini or on the diagonal for larger and longer crostini (see pictures) with a serrated knife about 1/2-inch thick.
  • Arrange them on a baking sheet. Brush with 1 tablespoon olive oil and top with vegan mozzarella shreds.
  • Toast in the oven for about 5 minutes or until the cheese starts to firm on top and looks golden. If you are using stale baguette, use the broiling function of your oven instead and check the cheese after 3 minutes. Remove from the oven.

Make the Balsamic Dijon Dressing

  • While the bread is toasting, make the balsamic mustard dressing. In a small bowl or pitcher, whisk together Maille Dijon Originale Mustard, extra virgin olive oil and balsamic vinegar.

Assemble the Crostini

  • Top the cheesy crostini slices with caramelized onion mushroom mixture and drizzle with the balsamic Dijon mustard dressing. Sprinkle with salt and freshly ground pepper to taste and garnish with fresh thyme. Serve warm or cold. Enjoy!

Notes

Cook’s Tips

  • Slice the baguette straight across if you prefer smaller bite-sized crostini or on the diagonal for larger and longer crostini with more room for toppings (see pictures).
  • Cut the bread about 1/2-inch thick so it doesn’t fall apart.
  • Use a serrated knife for slicing bread.
  • Crostini is a great way to use up stale baguette.
  • Add sugar and balsamic vinegar to quickly caramelize onions.
  • Serve them as a part of a festive appetizer table, with soups, stews, shakshukas, salads or on their own as a vegan finger food snack or a quick lunch.
  • Store crostini in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. Reheat in the microwave if needed.

Recipe Variations

  • Use any type of mushrooms or a blend for this recipe. Wild mushrooms, shiitake, chanterelles, white button mushrooms and oyster mushrooms are all great for crostini in any combination.
  • Substituting eggplant for half of the mushrooms will increase the nutrient density and give the crostini an interesting flavor profile.
  • Add roasted garlic to jazz up your mushroom crostini.
  • For a non-vegan version, use shredded mozzarella or creamy cheeses like ricotta ( use this vegan ricotta recipe), chevre or cream cheese (vegan version). If you use creamy cheeses, smear toasted crostini with a thin layer of cheese.

Nutrition

Calories: 109kcal | Carbohydrates: 10g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 7g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 142mg | Potassium: 197mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 12IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 24mg | Iron: 1mg