Ina Garten Shared the “Easiest Appetizer Ever” from Her Latest Cookbook
Ina Garten saw that we were all struggling earlier this year, so she pushed up the publication of her new release, Modern Comfort Food: A Barefoot Contessa Cookbook, so that it now comes out earlier than planned, on October 6. But if you can’t wait that long, she’s got you covered on Instagram with a little preview of a perfect summer appetizer.
Calling it the “easiest appetizer ever,” she shared a photo of her fig, goat cheese, and fig jam toast. She tops the elegant dish with a drizzle of balsamic and some sort of microgreens. She links to the recipe on her website for anyone who needs a little more information on how to make it with the exact Barefoot Contessa standards. While the recipe is built to serve six to eight people, which is likely more than you currently are seeing at any given time, it’s so simple and quick, it could easily be adapted to smaller quantities for a little happy hour snack or part of a very un-sad work-from-home desk lunch.
Basically, you just slice a halved loaf of country bread into about three-quarters of an inch-thick slices and toast them. When your toast is done but still warm, you spread it with the fig jam (she recommends the popular Dalmatia brand of fig spread, which she notes has less sugar than fig jam). You then warm the cheese in the microwave (surprisingly, there’s no alternative for those without one) for a half-minute, and spread the now-creamy dairy just enough to leave the fig jam showing below. After a little salt and pepper, you cut the toast crosswise, top with sliced figs, the microgreens, and that drizzle of balsamic.
If you are both an Ina and a toast fan, then you are in luck this week on her Instagram, as she also posted a slow-roasted tomato and ricotta bruschetta, which seems to be a similar but savory version, with basil and olive oil.