Classic Tomato Bruschetta
Bruschetta is one of the most iconic Italian entrees. You can find it in almost any restaurant and it is perfect to just have it on the table to share with your friends, while chatting. Moreover it is vegan, super easy and quick to prepare. Intrigued? Then keep reading to find out some tips to prepare the most delicious classic tomato bruschetta ever!
Italian name: Bruschetta con pomodori [brusˈketta kon pomoˈdɔri]
Picture yourself in a villa in the Italian hills, your friends and family gathered around the table in your garden while the sun is setting over a peaceful summer day. You arrive with a tray full of classic tomato bruschetta and everyone cheers, a bottle of wine pops, and the dinner can begin.
This appetizer will set an amazing atmosphere, and if you want your dinner to continue with another Italian classic, why don’t you try the Creamy Sffron Risotto?
Why It’s Worth a Spot on Your Table
This appetizer is perfect if you are feeling lazy and just want something quick and fresh to kick start an amazing dinner. In this recipe you can find the most iconic ingredients of Italian cuisine, mixed in a perfect match made in heaven: tomatoes, bread, olive oil and basil.
This classic Italian appetizer is super simple and will be ready in no time! If you want to begin your meal with an authentic and traditional dish, just bring a tray of bruschettas to the table for everyone to enjoy!
Ingredients
Ingredients for 10 bruschette
- 1 freshly baked bread
- 1.75 lb small tomatoes (800 gr)
- Extra virgin olive oil
- Salt
- Basil
- Pepper (optional)
- 1 clove of garlic (optional)
This traditional recipe has a handful of ingredients, so you should make sure to use fresh and high quality products to prepare your tomato bruschettas.
Bread
For this dish you should choose a bread that would allow you to have big slices with a crispy crust such as the one you can see below.
Tomatoes
It is better to prepare your recipes using fresh and seasonal ingredients. The perfect season to eat tomatoes is summer, and the kind of tomato you choose also plays a fundamental role. In fact, small tomatoes are usually the tastiest and better suited to prepare bruschettas, because they are typically sweeter.
Extra Virgin Olive Oil
Olive oil is so important in Italian recipes, so it is important to choose your oil wisely. In Italian households you can usually find the regular oil, which is used to cook, and then the special one, that is used raw, that is used to season soups, pasta dishes or salads before serving them. Bruschetta is a recipe that deserves your best oil, to enhance the simple yet exceptional flavours of this dish.
Tips
- For this classic tomato bruschetta the bread should be well toasted. I will use the oven, but you can feel free to use whatever you want – a pan, a toaster, a BBQ. It really doesn’t matter.
- If you want to give your recipe and extra touch, you can rub a fresh garlic clove over the toasted bread before adding the tomatoes.
- Please keep in mind that in order to fully enjoy a bruschetta you are supposed to eat it with your hands, and the tomatoes are of course going to roll out of the bread, so be careful – or at least don’t wear anything white!
Step by Step Recipe
- First of all, cut the tomatoes into small pieces and put them in a bowl. Add the oil and then enough salt, pepper and basil. Mix everything well andlet it rest outside of the fridge for 15-30 minutes.
- In the meantime cut the bread into 2 cm thick slices and toast them until they get golden and crispy. Once the bread is ready, wait until it’s warm before serving it, otherwise you will burn your fingers!
- Place a piece of bread on a plate and rub a clove of garlic over it. This step is optional, but strongly recommended (by me). Then, place enough tomatoes on the bread to cover it, and a splash of the delicious sauce that you will find at the bottom of the bowl. Add a leaf of basil to decorate it and your classic tomato bruschetta is ready to enjoy!
Are you looking for other vegan recipes? I got you!
Recipe Card
Classic Tomato Bruschetta
Ingredients
- 1 freshly baked loaf of bread
- 1.75 lb small tomatoes (800 gr)
- Extra virgin olive oil
- Salt
- Pepper
- Basil
- 1 Clove of garlic (optional)
Instructions
- Chop the tomatoes in little pieces and put them in a bowl. Add the oil, salt, pepper and basil. Mix everything well and let it rest outside of the fridge for 15-30 minutes.
- Cut the bread into 2 cm thick slices and toast them. Once the bread is ready, wait until it’s warm before serving it, otherwise you will burn your fingers!
- Place a piece of bread on a plate and rub a clove of garlic over it (optional). Place enough tomatoes on the bread to cover it, and some of the sauce you will find at the bottom of the bowl. Add a leaf of basil to decorate it and your classic tomato bruschetta is ready to enjoy!
May I tempt you? Here you can find other Italian classics!
FAQs
Can I make it gluten free?
Of course! Just use your favorite gluten free bread or corn/rice biscuits instead of bread. You will have a delicious alternative bruschetta.
Can I use any kind of bread?
Even if the original Italian recipe is usually pepared with classic white wheat bread, you can use whole wheat bread, rye bread, or any kind of bread with seeds. It is more important to have a bread with the right shape: the slices should be big enough for you to put a couple of tablespoons of tomatoes on it. So, if you are a baguette lover, for example, maybe this time you should choose a different kind of bread.
Did I forget something? Don’t be shy and ask in the comments!
