Cherry Salsa is sweet, spicy and delicious on goat cheese crostini, baked Brie, chicken cutlets or grilled meats. Simplicity is good and this quick and easy recipe can be ready for guests without much fuss. The dried cherries offer a nice texture to the salsa and the freshly chopped jalapenos, lime and vinegar balance the cherry jam. It’s so good!
My favourite way to eat this lovely Cherry Salsa is dabbed on crisp crostini smeared with goat cheese. The tang and creaminess of the goat cheese make it a great pairing with the salsa and the combo makes for an easy company friendly appetizer. Another great way to use Cherry Salsa is as a baked brie topping. Simply spoon the salsa onto your hot baked brie and serve with crisp crackers, crostini or crudites. I originally found this Cherry Salsa paired up pecan-crusted chicken wings. I’ve prepared pecan-crusted chicken cutlets in the past and thought this would also be a wonderful way to use the salsa in a main course. I was not disappointed as the crunchy, nutty cutlets beg for the sweet, spiciness that the salsa offers. The recipe for pecan-crusted chicken cutlets will be coming to the blog soon, so be sure to check back.
Chop dried cherries and combine with cherry jam in a mini food processor or blender. Pulse several times until cherries are about the size of a pea or smaller. Add remaining ingredients and pulse 2-3 times to combine.
Scoop into a serving dish, cover and chill for at least 30 minutes to meld flavours. Use as a topping for crostini, baked brie, breaded chicken cutlets or grilled meats.
Recipe Notes
-I find there is a need to first chop the cherries before adding to the food processor because everything becomes too processed in the time it takes the dried cherries to break down. By chopping the cherries first, the mixture retains most of its texture yet everything is combined.
-If a food processor is not available, simply chop everything by hand and combine.
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It’s all about mom! Surprise her in bed with a warm, flaky danish and a cup of coffee. I know I would be thrilled at such a gesture. This lovely Cherry Almond Danish is made with ready-made puff pastry and can be assembled ahead of time, making it easy to have ready for the oven. With its flaky pastry, fruity filling and cream cheese layer this danish makes for a perfect brunch item for Easter, Mother’s Day or any entertaining occasion.
Using pre-made puff pastry gives you peace of mind that it will be flaky and golden with very little effort. The cherry sauce has a hint of almond flavouring as does the sticky sweet glaze and it’s topped with toasted almonds. It’s a combination I love and it’s so easy to make, giving you no excuse not to treat that special lady or welcomed quests.
Combine cherries and sugar in a medium saucepan and cook over medium heat until cherries are soft and syrupy about 10 minutes.
In a small bowl whisk together 1 tbsp of cornstarch and 1 tbsp cold water. Stir into cherries and whisk constantly over medium-high heat until mixture comes to a full boil.
Remove from heat and stir in almond extract. Allow to cool for about 10-15 minutes.
Preheat oven to 425℉ and line a heavy baking sheet with parchment.
In a small bowl cream together cream cheese, 1 tbsp of powdered sugar and vanilla.
Lay puff pastry sheet on parchment and stretch slightly in width and length to 11-12".
Using a pastry scraper or knife cut 1" wide fingers on the top and bottom third of pastry (length of fingers will be 3-4") and the centre 4" portion will be uncut (see photo).
Spread cream cheese evenly along the centre uncut 4" portion of pastry.
Spread cherry filling evenly on top of the cream cheese filling, leaving the fingers uncovered.
Pull fingers across filling, alternating sides as you go (it's ok to have some small spaces in the pastry). Tuck any excess pastry underneath.
In a small bowl whisk together egg and 1 tbsp milk or cream. Brush generously onto pastry.
Bake in preheated oven for 25-28 minutes until golden and puffed. Remove from oven to a cooling rack for 5 minutes.
Glaze
In a small bowl whisk together 1/2cup powdered sugar and 1 tbsp milk or cream. Drizzle over pastry while warm and sprinkle with toasted almonds.
Serve warm, cutting into 1 1/2" slices.
Recipe Notes
-Toast almonds in a preheated 350℉ oven for 10-12 minutes, stirring once.
-Using a pastry cutter to cut fingers allows a clean cut without cutting through the parchment.
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Pepper in your cookies anyone? Pink Peppercorn Cherry Biscotti are buttery, peppery and sweet. A truly delightful crunchy combination. Now is the time to start thinking about holiday baking and these biscotti scream out holiday with the red cherries, spattering of pink peppercorns and drizzle of white chocolate.
While pink peppercorns are not actually a pepper but rather a dried berry, they still have a distinct peppery flavour. They are fantastic with fruit, in creamy desserts and sauces. For anyone who has been following me, you will remember they were difficult for me to find when I was making Grilled Salmon with Pink Peppercorn Tartar Sauce. I eventually purchased them on Amazon. I still have plenty left, so don’t be surprised to find more great recipes using pink peppercorns appear from time to time. A tablespoon or two at a time takes a while to use, but since they travelled all the way from England I will definitely be using every speck.
I love this recipe because biscotti is so versatile. The cookie dough can take on a wide array of flavours, nuts and fruits. It really is just your imagination that limits you. These in particular are slightly spicy from the pepper, buttery and crunchy, while the white chocolate adds just enough creamy sweetness to balance it all. They are fantastic!
Recipe Source: Compelled To Cook
Pink Peppercorn Cherry Biscotti
Print Recipe
Pink Peppercorn Cherry Biscotti is sweet and crunchy with a hint of pepper.
Servings
Prep Time
28cookies
30
Cook Time
50
Servings
Prep Time
28cookies
30
Cook Time
50
Pink Peppercorn Cherry Biscotti
Print Recipe
Pink Peppercorn Cherry Biscotti is sweet and crunchy with a hint of pepper.
Preheat oven to 350℉. Cream together butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add eggs one at a time, incorporating before adding the next. Beat in vanilla.
In a small bowl combine flour, baking powder, salt and peppercorns. Add to butter and egg mixture, beating until combined. Stir in dried cherries.
Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper. Divided dough into two. Shape each portion into a long flat log approximately 2 1/2"x 9 1/2"x1" high. Whisk egg white with a tbsp of water and brush over each log. Bake for 30 minutes, remove from oven and allow to cool for 10-15 minutes. Reduce oven temperature to 300℉. Cut each log into 3/4" slices and lay each piece flat on the baking sheet. Bake for 10 minutes, turn over each piece and bake for an additional 10 minutes.
Remove from oven and allow to cool. Melt white chocolate and drizzle over each piece.
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