Black Roasted Grapes and Goat Cheese Rounds

By posting this recipe I am entering a recipe contest sponsored by the California Table Grape Commission and am eligible to win prizes associated with the contest. I was not compensated for my time.

Table grapes are one of our household staples. Specifically, we love red grapes, snipped into trees and very cold in the fridge. And we can finish the bag we bought in less than a day. For good reason! If you're ready to fall in love with grapes again it's time for me to remind you they are packed with antioxidants and polyphenols. One serving (3/4 cup) has only 90 calories, no fat, no cholesterol and virtually no sodium. They have potassium and are a good source of vitamin K...whatever color you choose!

My goal with this recipe was to try something out of the box. It was super tempting for me to leave the grapes as is and just cut up....but then I thought of roasting. Roasting is my go to method for fall vegetables because it brings out the natural flavors, elevates sweetness and you can do it with minimal added fat. 

This was my first time trying black grapes and I LOVE them! They're less tart and maybe less acidic than other colors of grapes. You need these for Halloween. 

Roasted Grape and Goat Cheese Rounds

A fabulously simple appetizer or snack! 

///Ingredients/// Makes 10 toasts

• 50 Grapes (I used black, but you could easily use red!)
• 2 teaspoons olive oil
• 10 slices of whole wheat bread
• 5 ounces goat cheese
• 1/4 cup walnuts, chopped
• 2 sprigs rosemary, fresh

///Directions///  Wash and de-stem grapes. Place on a baking sheet with olive oil and toss grapes in oil. Bake at 250 F for 10-15 minutes or until the skin of the grapes begins to shrivel or pucker. Remove from oven and set aside. Cut bread into rounds with a biscuit cutter (or an upside down glass if you're in a pinch) and toast. Spread crumbled goat cheese onto each toast and top with 5 grapes. Sprinkle chopped walnuts evenly over the toasts and top with a few rosemary leaves. Serve warm or cool!

Sorry for the excessive pictures. I cannot get over how beautiful the roasted grapes look on the toasts! Simple. Easy. I can't get enough. Also, this marble pastry slab. Why did I not get one sooner???

There you have it! A bit of crunch from the toasts and walnuts with savory salty goat cheese and sweet roasted grapes. Topped with herbal, pine like greenery. So much to love. 

Have you tried black grapes?  What's your favorite way to eat them?