Garlic Confit Crostini

Authentique French Bakery

Authentique French bakery first opened its doors in late 2012. Their first outlet located on a small street in South Kemang combines two of my favourite things: delicious food and pretty interior. Start with only one small shop it doesn’t take too long for Sophie Boyer to expand their business and open another store in Cipete, Kuningan and Setiabudi. I’ve been to their shop in Cipete and Kuningan which is bigger than their first shop, but this small shop in south Kemang is still my favourite.

Yesterday after lunch with JP I strolled around Kemang alone. I went to Pantry Magic and Jenggala Ceramic for window shopping, pick up some groceries at Hero Kemang and then stop by in Authentique for another coffee.

Garlic Confit Crostini with Camembert and Pink Peppercorn

Bruschetta and crostini are both Italian-style bites or antipasti. Both are made from crisp toasted or grilled bread.  I’ve never been so sure what the difference between the two, but the moment of truth come when JP explain to me the difference.

Bruschetta comes from the Italian word bruscare, it means “to toast over the coal.” The bread that uses as a base usually cut into large flat pieces. While Crostini means “little toast” in Italian. The small-thin slices of bread usually brushed with a savoury topping such as cheese.

Basically, you can top the crostini with anything that sounds delicious, but this time I want to pair it with garlic confit and camembert.

Garlic Confit Crostini Recipe

Ingredients

• 1 baguette, sliced into 1 cm thick
• Camembert
• Pink Peppercorn
• Honey, optional

Garlic Confit

• 2 heads garlic, peeled
• 3/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
• 2 sprigs thyme, optional
• 5 pink peppercorn, optional

Direction

• Garlic Confit: Lightly crushed pink peppercorn. Place garlic cloves, thyme and pink peppercorn in a small saucepan, pour in olive oil (add more olive oil if garlic cloves aren’t submerged).
• Heat over medium heat just until the small bubble form and rise to the surface, let it simmer for 5 minutes, but make sure the oil never comes to boil. Reduce heat to low and heat for another 45 minutes (maintain the heat between 90-99 C), until the garlic is soft and tender.
• Remove from heat, transfer the garlic with slotted spoon to a sterilised jar, and pour the oil to cover the garlic. Cool to the room temperature and then store in the fridge.
• Garlic Confit Crostini: Preheat the oven to 350. Brush the baguette slices with olive oil, season with salt and pepper, and arrange them on a large baking sheets. Bake until lightly golden, about 15 to 17 minutes.
• Let the toasted baguette slightly cool, spread with garlic confit, top with sliced camembert. Sprinkle with crushed pink peppercorn, and drizzle with a little honey.