Bruschetta

While I was studying abroad in Europe, I traveled to Italy for a long weekend. With every meal that I ate while I was there I had to have an appetizer of bruschetta, pronounced bru-sketta in Italian (if you want to act worldly.) I love that different restaurants have different variations of the appetizer but this classic bruschetta recipe is my favorite. I can make a whole meal of just this.

Bruschetta

What is Bruschetta?

Bruschetta is an Italian antipasto dish consisting of marinated tomatoes on top of toasted bread with many different variations.

Key Ingredients in This Recipe

• Tomatoes – These tomatoes have a thicker skin and lower water content than many other tomato varieties, making it perfect for this bruschetta since they won’t water the appetizer. As you cut the tomatoes remove and discard the core and seeds. Roma tomatoes are available year-round though tomatoes are at their peak in the summer months. 
• Garlic – I always use fresh cloves of garlic, the pre-minced jars of garlic don’t taste the same. It loses a lot of the powerful garlic flavor when it’s jarred. This is because it has been soaked in water for a long period of time. Peeling garlic only takes a bit. For a more subtle garlic flavor rub whole clove of garlic over the toasted crostini slices.
• Balsamic – Balsamic adds a slightly sweet, acidic note to the bruschetta recipe . Balsamic is sweeter and more syrupy than other wine vinegars. It’s made from the unfermented juice of grapes, called “must”, and aged for 12 years or more.
• Baguette – Look for a French baguette with a crisp crust for this crostini. If you buy a baguette for this recipe a few days in advance then slice it ahead of time and store in resealable plastic bags so that it doesn’t get stale and harden. To revive a stale baguette simple spray it with a bit of water then bake in the oven at 350ºF for 10 minutes until it’s crisp on the outside again. 

How to Make Bruschetta

1. Heat broiler. Preheat broiler to high.
2. Mix together tomatoes and garlic. Dice the tomatoes and put into a large bowl. Add 2 cloves of the minced garlic and gently stir until combined.
3. Stir with oil and balsamic. Drizzle olive oil and balsamic over the tomatoes. Top with chopped basil. Let sit to marinate while making the crostini.
4. Stir together remaining garlic and oil. In another small bowl combine the remaining garlic and about ¼ cup olive oil.
5. Make crostini. Slice the bread thinly and dip the bread into it then place them on a cookie sheet. Broil until golden brown, about a minute.
6. Assemble and serve. To serve, top each piece of bread with a spoonful of bruschetta.

Other Recipes to Try

If you enjoy this recipe, I recommend checking out some of these:

• Heirloom Tomato, Avocado and Burrata Tartines
• Cherry Tomato “Naked Bruschetta” Crostini
• Heirloom Tomato and Mozzarella Caprese Sandwich

Bruschetta

Print Pin

Prep Time 10 mins

Cook Time 5 mins

Serves 4

Ingredients:

• 5 medium Roma tomatoes, cored and diced
• 4 cloves garlic, minced
• 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, plus additional for bread
• 3 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
• 2 tablespoons chopped fresh basil
• 1 French baguette, sliced into 1/2”-thick slices, approximately 15 slices

Instructions:

• Preheat broiler to high.
• Dice the tomatoes and put into a large bowl. Add 2 cloves of the minced garlic and gently stir until combined.
• Drizzle olive oil and balsamic over the tomatoes. Top with chopped basil. Let sit to marinate while making the crostini.
• In another small bowl combine the remaining garlic and about ¼ cup olive oil.
• Slice the bread thinly and dip the bread into it then place them on a cookie sheet. Broil until golden brown, about a minute.
• To serve, top each piece of bread with a spoonful of bruschetta.

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