Do you get as excited as I do when I see bags of cherries in the produce department? In addition to being a sign of summer, cherries also are a top five favorite fruit. There’s nothing better than sitting with a bowl of them, enjoying their sweet taste while my fingertips become stained in burgundy juice. Now, if you’re seeking a more elegant way to eat cherries, then you need to try my summertime cherry and thyme bruschetta.
The original post from August 2017
When I had that night alone, which I referenced on Monday, I knew that although I’d enjoy a bowl of Chilled Blueberry Lemon Soup, that wouldn’t be enough of a meal for me. I could have gone with my typical fallback of a simple lavash flatbread or homemade chicken salad wrap, but I was in a more creative mood. What else could I make that would please my palate?
It’s summer, so my mind turned to fruit again. Cherries! They’ve been prominent in the grocery store and, conveniently, on sale. What could I do with them besides add them to chicken salad or eat them plain? I could transform them into a topping for crackers or crostini!
The next step always is contemplation: what ingredients should be added to deliver a dish that is delicious? So, I visualize a sort of food Rolodex, considering options. Red wine was the automatic thought for the liquid to help bind the bruschetta. Although I wanted it to have an element of freshness, I also wanted to cook the cherries a bit to render some sweetness and soften the fruit a bit. With flavors of cabernet and cherries, I wanted to add something else to make it multi-dimensional. Thyme seemed like the perfect herb for the dish, although I think rosemary might work as well.
From an idea to final product
What utterly pleases me is when this mental planning produces a dish that I love. And I loved this bruschetta. It had hints of sweetness and earthiness. Although it felt rich and divine on the tongue, it really wasn’t all that indulgent. I ate it both on toasted crostini and flatbread crackers topped with goat cheese, and it was amazing!
To make this recipe you will have to pit your cherries, whether with a pitter or a knife, and probably will have stained fingers, but it is oh so worth it. In fact, I’d suggest doubling the recipe. Get all of the work out of the way at once so you can have leftovers for another day. You’ll thank me. I promise.
Cherry & Thyme Bruschetta
Ingredients
- Olive oil
- 1 shallot minced
- 1 cup pitted & chopped cherries about 20
- ¼ cup dry red wine
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- ½ teaspoon sugar
Instructions
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Add a small amount of olive oil to a small saucepan over medium heat.
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Add shallot and saute for 5 minutes or until tender.
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Add cherries, wine, thyme, and sugar; heat to a boil.
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Reduce heat, and simmer, stirring occasionally, for 10 minutes.
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Cool slightly, and then serve with cheese and crackers or crostini.
