Bruschetta with Shrimp, Tarragon, and Arugula

It's almost dinner time and I can't stop thinking about these delicious Bruschettas my sister Beth made for a family dinner a couple weeks ago. Delicious! She isn't a huge fan of the smell/taste of Tarragon (black licorice), so she substituted that with basil which worked out well! For people that like shrimp, it would be a huge hit. It's pretty shrimp meaty though, so a small bruschetta round goes a long way when serving this as appetizers. It is the perfect bruschetta to really "wow" dinner guests OR just eat on your own for dinner with a friend or significant other. Enjoy!

Bruschetta with Shrimp, Tarragon, and Arugula
from Beth's kitchen via Food Network

• 1 (1-pound) loaf ciabatta bread, trimmed and cut into 14 (1/2-inch thick) slices
• Olive oil, for drizzling
• 1 garlic clove, halved

Topping:

• 3 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 large or 2 small shallots, thinly sliced
• 1 clove garlic, chopped
• 1 pound extra-large shrimp, peeled and deveined
• Salt and freshly ground black pepper
• 6 Roma tomatoes, chopped
• 1/4 cup white wine
• 1/4 cup low-sodium chicken stock
• 3 tablespoons chopped fresh tarragon leaves
• 1 packed cup arugula, chopped
• 1/2 cup mascarpone cheese, at room temperature

1. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.

2. Arrange the bread slices in a single layer on a baking sheet and drizzle with olive oil. Bake until light golden, about 10 minutes. Cool for 2 minutes. Rub the warm toasts with the cut side of the garlic. Set aside.

3. For the topping: In a medium skillet, heat 3 tablespoons of oil over medium-high heat. Add the shallots and garlic and cook, stirring frequently, until soft, about 2 minutes. Season the shrimp with salt and pepper, to taste, and add them to the skillet. Cook until the shrimp are pink and cooked through about 3 to 4 minutes. Remove the shrimp and chop into 1/2-inch pieces. Set aside.

4. In the same skillet, add the tomatoes and season with salt and pepper, to taste. Cook over medium-high heat until the tomatoes start to soften, about 4 minutes. Turn the heat to high. Add the wine and scrape up the brown bits that cling to the bottom of the pan with a wooden spoon. Cook for 2 minutes. Stir in the stock and cook until most of the liquid has evaporated, about 2 minutes. Remove the pan from the heat and add the tarragon, arugula, mascarpone cheese, and chopped shrimp. Stir until the mixture is creamy. Season with salt and pepper, to taste. Arrange the toasts on serving plates and drizzle with the sauce. Sprinkle with salt and pepper before serving.

Yum Yum Yum!