Description

This bruschetta appetizer is just perfect for the holidays. It is fresh, healthy, beautiful and elegant looking and has a wonderful combination of texture and taste.

Ingredients

• Cranberry-Pomegranate Relish:
• 1 lb. fresh or frozen cranberries, washed
• 2 t. chopped fresh ginger
• 1 c. sugar
• ¼ c. honey
• 2 t. Sriracha sauce
• ½ c. roughly chopped fresh cilantro (or parsley)
• zest from 1 orange, reserving a little for garnish
• ¾-1 c. pomegranate arils or seeds*, reserve a few for garnish
• finely chopped fresh cilantro or parsley, for garnish
• Crostini:
• 1 thin, good quality baguette, sliced about ¼ inch thick
• ½ c. extra virgin olive oil
• kosher salt
• freshly ground black pepper
• 8 oz. cream cheese, softened regular or low fat, but not no-fat)

Steps

1. Relish:
2. Place cranberries, ginger, sugar, honey and Sriracha sauce in the bowl of a food processor; pulse on and off several times until cranberries are coarsely chopped, not processing too much. Add cilantro; pulse a few more times, but not too much. Cilantro bits should be visible and mixture should be a bit chunky.
3. Transfer to a storage container; add pomegranate arils* and orange zest; refrigerate for at least 2 hours or until ready to use.