What is Bruschetta?
Bruschetta (pronounced “bru-SKET-ta”) is a traditional Italian antipasto (starter course) that consists of toasted, garlic-rubbed bread topped with any number of delicious ingredients. Some variations call for meat products, while others consist of beans, cheeses, or veggies. The most popular version around the globe seems to be Tomato Bruschetta, where a topping of fresh chopped tomatoes, fresh Italian herbs like basil and oregano, extra virgin olive oil, and garlic are tossed together and spooned over the toast. An optional drizzle of balsamic vinegar and a grating of cheese sometimes find their way onto tomato bruschetta, though this isn’t necessary. Much like Indian cooking, there are likely as many personalized recipes for bruschetta that you can find worldwide.
About Tomato Bruschetta Recipe
Bruschetta is one of my favorite starters. It not only tastes good but is also quite easy to prepare. The recipe is also simple to scale up or down as needed, meaning you can make them in large quantities for parties or gatherings. This is a quick and easy bruschetta recipe starring fresh summer tomatoes and fragrant fresh basil. In a pinch, you can also opt to use cherry tomatoes or small tomatoes. They perfectly work in the recipe making the bruschetta taste so good. The bruschetta recipe shared below makes for just one to two servings, which is perfect for a quick and light work-from-home lunch or snack. That said, you can easily increase the ingredients proportionately to make more servings as needed.
Ingredients & Substitutions
Since the recipe is so simple, it is important that you use the best quality ingredients you can find.
Good Quality Bread. One of the most important ingredients for bruschetta is the right kind of loaf. Use a good quality French or Italian loaf or baguette that is nice and crusty on the outside with a stretchy, soft, irregular crumb on the inside. For this shoot, I used an artisan baguette made of whole wheat and oats with hints of cinnamon in it. It was quite yummy.Extra Virgin Olive OIl. Be sure to use the best quality extra virgin olive oil you can find. Look for qualifiers like “cold-pressed” and “100% olive oil” to help you make purchasing decisions. Tomatoes. Since this is a raw preparation, it is also important to use only fresh, in-season tomatoes. Just trust me: making this in the depths of winter is a sad, tasteless prospect.Fresh Basil. I simply love the combination of fresh basil with garden fresh tomatoes. Feel free to experiment with other fresh herb combinations to make this tomato bruschetta all your own!Fresh Garlic. One of the best parts of bruschetta is how garlicky and spicy the bread is. It comes from first toasting the bread until it is a little rough, then rubbing a garlic clove directly against it. YUM!Salt & Pepper. Don’t forget your seasoning! Remember that fresh cracked black pepper will be far more flavorful than the pre-ground kind.
How To Make Tomato Bruschetta
Once you see how easy it is to make Italian bruschetta, I have a feeling you’ll be doing it all summer long. Here’s how it’s made:
Make Tomato Herb Topping
- Rinse and then chop 1 medium to large tomatoes into small cubes. Remove the seeds from tomatoes, if you want. Take the chopped tomatoes in a mixing bowl.
- Now add chopped 2 to 3 fresh basil leaves and minced or grated 1 small garlic clove. Sprinkle in ¼ teaspoon crushed black pepper, or add more to your taste.
- Season with salt as per taste.
- Add 2 teaspoons extra virgin olive oil.
- Mix very well. For a bright, tangy taste, you can add ¼ teaspoon of balsamic vinegar or lemon juice. Mix again. Cover and keep the tomato mixture in the fridge for 30 minutes or up to an hour or two to give the flavors time to meld.
Make Bruschetta Bread
6. Slice the baguette into 0.75 to 1-inch wide pieces. 7. Heat a pan or skillet and place the slices on it. Note: If making a large batch, then it’s better/easier to toast the slices in an oven. 8. When one side becomes lightly toasted, turn over the slices and toast the second side. 9. When both sides are toasted to your liking, remove them to a plate or tray. 10. Now halve a garlic clove and rub the sliced end of the garlic on each piece of toasted bread. If you want, you can brush a bit of extra virgin olive oil on as well. 11. Now place the tomato basil mixture on each toasted bread and serve immediately. Make-Ahead Tip: Once you plate the tomato mixture on top of the bread, it should be served immediately or it will begin to get soggy. If you need some time before serving, keep the toasted bread and the tomato topping separate. Let your family members or guests help themselves by placing a bowl of the tomato topping next to a platter with the toasted bread. 12. Serve Tomato Bruschetta as a starter or a snack. Enjoy!
Bruschetta Recipe Variations
This simple, 5-ingredient recipe for Tomato Bruschetta is bright and lovely just as it is, but there’s always room for customization. Here are some of my favorite variations:
Add cheese. A swoosh of ricotta, a few crumbles of feta or goat cheese, some fresh mozzarella or burrata, or a shaving of parmesan would add a bit of richness to this tasty appetizer. Add greens. A handful of peppery arugula or watercress would be a welcome pop of color and flavor.Consider using acid. A drizzle of balsamic vinegar (or a syrupy balsamic vinegar reduction) or a squeeze of lemon can add extra brightness to the topping. Add protein. Consider stirring in some cooked white beans or kidney beans for a heartier snack.Use a different topping. Consider mushroom bruschetta or a mixture of cooked beans and leafy greens for a non-summer option.
Expert Tips
Making homemade bruschetta is easier than you might think, but I still have a few words of wisdom for you: Please be sure to rate the recipe in the recipe card or leave a comment below if you have made it. For more vegetarian inspirations, Sign Up for my emails or follow me on Instagram, Youtube, Facebook, Pinterest or Twitter. Bread Pizza – 2 Ways (On a Skillet or Tawa & In an Oven) Cheese Sandwich Recipe (2 Ways) Avocado Toast (Easy, Simple and Healthy) Cucumber Sandwich This Tomato Bruschetta recipe from the archives, originally published in July 2016 has been updated and republished on January 2023.
title: “Bruschetta Recipe Tomato Bruschetta Bread” ShowToc: true date: “2024-10-30” author: “Kathy Faurrieta”
What is Bruschetta?
Bruschetta (pronounced “bru-SKET-ta”) is a traditional Italian antipasto (starter course) that consists of toasted, garlic-rubbed bread topped with any number of delicious ingredients. Some variations call for meat products, while others consist of beans, cheeses, or veggies. The most popular version around the globe seems to be Tomato Bruschetta, where a topping of fresh chopped tomatoes, fresh Italian herbs like basil and oregano, extra virgin olive oil, and garlic are tossed together and spooned over the toast. An optional drizzle of balsamic vinegar and a grating of cheese sometimes find their way onto tomato bruschetta, though this isn’t necessary. Much like Indian cooking, there are likely as many personalized recipes for bruschetta that you can find worldwide.
About Tomato Bruschetta Recipe
Bruschetta is one of my favorite starters. It not only tastes good but is also quite easy to prepare. The recipe is also simple to scale up or down as needed, meaning you can make them in large quantities for parties or gatherings. This is a quick and easy bruschetta recipe starring fresh summer tomatoes and fragrant fresh basil. In a pinch, you can also opt to use cherry tomatoes or small tomatoes. They perfectly work in the recipe making the bruschetta taste so good. The bruschetta recipe shared below makes for just one to two servings, which is perfect for a quick and light work-from-home lunch or snack. That said, you can easily increase the ingredients proportionately to make more servings as needed.
Ingredients & Substitutions
Since the recipe is so simple, it is important that you use the best quality ingredients you can find.
Good Quality Bread. One of the most important ingredients for bruschetta is the right kind of loaf. Use a good quality French or Italian loaf or baguette that is nice and crusty on the outside with a stretchy, soft, irregular crumb on the inside. For this shoot, I used an artisan baguette made of whole wheat and oats with hints of cinnamon in it. It was quite yummy.Extra Virgin Olive OIl. Be sure to use the best quality extra virgin olive oil you can find. Look for qualifiers like “cold-pressed” and “100% olive oil” to help you make purchasing decisions. Tomatoes. Since this is a raw preparation, it is also important to use only fresh, in-season tomatoes. Just trust me: making this in the depths of winter is a sad, tasteless prospect.Fresh Basil. I simply love the combination of fresh basil with garden fresh tomatoes. Feel free to experiment with other fresh herb combinations to make this tomato bruschetta all your own!Fresh Garlic. One of the best parts of bruschetta is how garlicky and spicy the bread is. It comes from first toasting the bread until it is a little rough, then rubbing a garlic clove directly against it. YUM!Salt & Pepper. Don’t forget your seasoning! Remember that fresh cracked black pepper will be far more flavorful than the pre-ground kind.
How To Make Tomato Bruschetta
Once you see how easy it is to make Italian bruschetta, I have a feeling you’ll be doing it all summer long. Here’s how it’s made:
Make Tomato Herb Topping
- Rinse and then chop 1 medium to large tomatoes into small cubes. Remove the seeds from tomatoes, if you want. Take the chopped tomatoes in a mixing bowl.
- Now add chopped 2 to 3 fresh basil leaves and minced or grated 1 small garlic clove. Sprinkle in ¼ teaspoon crushed black pepper, or add more to your taste.
- Season with salt as per taste.
- Add 2 teaspoons extra virgin olive oil.
- Mix very well. For a bright, tangy taste, you can add ¼ teaspoon of balsamic vinegar or lemon juice. Mix again. Cover and keep the tomato mixture in the fridge for 30 minutes or up to an hour or two to give the flavors time to meld.
Make Bruschetta Bread
6. Slice the baguette into 0.75 to 1-inch wide pieces. 7. Heat a pan or skillet and place the slices on it. Note: If making a large batch, then it’s better/easier to toast the slices in an oven. 8. When one side becomes lightly toasted, turn over the slices and toast the second side. 9. When both sides are toasted to your liking, remove them to a plate or tray. 10. Now halve a garlic clove and rub the sliced end of the garlic on each piece of toasted bread. If you want, you can brush a bit of extra virgin olive oil on as well. 11. Now place the tomato basil mixture on each toasted bread and serve immediately. Make-Ahead Tip: Once you plate the tomato mixture on top of the bread, it should be served immediately or it will begin to get soggy. If you need some time before serving, keep the toasted bread and the tomato topping separate. Let your family members or guests help themselves by placing a bowl of the tomato topping next to a platter with the toasted bread. 12. Serve Tomato Bruschetta as a starter or a snack. Enjoy!
Bruschetta Recipe Variations
This simple, 5-ingredient recipe for Tomato Bruschetta is bright and lovely just as it is, but there’s always room for customization. Here are some of my favorite variations:
Add cheese. A swoosh of ricotta, a few crumbles of feta or goat cheese, some fresh mozzarella or burrata, or a shaving of parmesan would add a bit of richness to this tasty appetizer. Add greens. A handful of peppery arugula or watercress would be a welcome pop of color and flavor.Consider using acid. A drizzle of balsamic vinegar (or a syrupy balsamic vinegar reduction) or a squeeze of lemon can add extra brightness to the topping. Add protein. Consider stirring in some cooked white beans or kidney beans for a heartier snack.Use a different topping. Consider mushroom bruschetta or a mixture of cooked beans and leafy greens for a non-summer option.
Expert Tips
Making homemade bruschetta is easier than you might think, but I still have a few words of wisdom for you: Please be sure to rate the recipe in the recipe card or leave a comment below if you have made it. For more vegetarian inspirations, Sign Up for my emails or follow me on Instagram, Youtube, Facebook, Pinterest or Twitter. Bread Pizza – 2 Ways (On a Skillet or Tawa & In an Oven) Cheese Sandwich Recipe (2 Ways) Avocado Toast (Easy, Simple and Healthy) Cucumber Sandwich This Tomato Bruschetta recipe from the archives, originally published in July 2016 has been updated and republished on January 2023.
