We all know red cherries are delicious on their own, but have you tried adding them to savory dishes? We asked our friends at Northwest Cherry Growers, a collective of passionate farmers, for a few of their favorite recipes.
Pro tip: if you don’t have a cherry pitter, grab a chopstick or reusable straw. Push your chosen utensil at the point where the stem meets the fruit and push the pit straight through into a bowl. You can also use a paring knife to slice through the fruit (avoiding the seed) and pop out the pit.
Ingredients
18 slices (1/2 inch thick) small baguette-style bread
1 tablespoon olive oil for brushing
1 1/2 cups pitted Northwest fresh sweet cherries, roughly chopped
1/4 cup cilantro chopped
1/4 cup yellow sweet pepper diced
2 tablespoons green onions finely chopped
2 tablespoons lime juice
1 teaspoon grated lime peel
1/2 teaspoon garlic salt
1/4 teaspoon black pepper ground
2 ounces fresh mozzarella cheese
1 tablespoon fresh basil thinly sliced
Directions
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Toast one side of baguette slices at 350°F for about 4 minutes.
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Turn slices. Brush with olive oil and bake for another 4 minutes, or until desired toast level.
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Combine cherries, cilantro, pepper, green onions, lime juice, lime peel, salt, pepper and remaining olive oil mix in a bowl; mix well.
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Top each slice of freshly toasted baguette with a thin slice of fresh mozzarella cheese, a heaping tablespoon of cherry mixture and sliced basil.
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Serve warm or cold. Makes 18 appetizers.