Simple Bruschetta Recipe

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Bruschetta is an easy, Italian appetizer that always goes over well. Toasted bread, rubbed with garlic and topped with diced garden tomatoes, fresh basil, and a hint of balsamic vinegar. This is the best bruschetta recipe!

Bruschetta or “bru-sketta” has nuzzled its way into my heart. This pregnancy of mine has brought cravings for tomatoes galore, so this has been my snack of choice for the past two months. The tomato basil combo cannot be beat, especially when enjoying with some extra toasty (and garlicky!) bread.

First of all, what is bruschetta?

Bruschetta is an Italian appetizer (or antipasto) consisting of grilled or toasted bread, rubbed with olive oil and garlic (extra garlic for me!), then topped with a tomato-basil mixture. It doesn’t have to always be tomatoes, it could be beans, cheese, cured meats, or other vegetables.

Here in America though, this recipe is the classic Bruschetta recipe that everyone expects.

Love tomatoes? Try these other recipes: Creamy Tomato Bisque Recipe, Spinach, Bacon & Feta Pizza with Sun-Dried Tomato Sauce, Roasted Tomato Bolognese Sauce, and Tomato Pie from House of Nash Eats!

How to make Bruschetta

This bruschetta recipe could not be easier, plus making it in advance only makes it taste more amazing!

1. Make the tomato mixture by dicing up several ripe, garden tomatoes, chopping up some fresh basil and stirring in a little minced garlic, salt, pepper and balsamic vinegar.
2. Grill or toast the bread by slicing a baguette into thin pieces, drizzling with olive oil and baking for several minutes to crisp. You want this very crisp to withstand the wet tomato mixture! After it has toasted up, gently rub each piece with a raw clove of garlic.
3. Spoon the tomato mixture onto the toasts to create your bruschetta.
4. Finish with a little balsamic glaze or parmesan cheese. An optional (but delicious) step.

What kind of tomatoes should I use for Bruschetta?

The variety of tomatoes shouldn’t matter as much as quality. Where possible, try to find a garden heirloom or ‘on the vine’ tomato from a farmer’s market. They tend to be juicier and sweeter. A lot of store-bought tomatoes grown in large quantities tend to lack flavor and can have a grainy texture which obviously doesn’t make for a very tasty bruschetta topping.

When in doubt, smell the tomato. If it smells like a freshly picked tomato, odds are it will be a good one. Tomatoes that just have no scent whatsoever will probably have no flavor.

Make-Ahead

Like I mentioned above, making the tomato topping a few hours ahead of time can make a world of difference for the flavor. Simply stir the tomatoes, basil, balsamic vinegar, garlic, salt, and pepper together in a bowl, cover, and refrigerate. It should stay good for at least three days, though I like to serve it within 24 hours.

Serving bruschetta

For the photos above, I added the tomato topping right to the toasted bread, but feel free to just have the bruschetta topping in a bowl with a stack of grilled bread right beside. Both perfectly acceptable and equally delicious!

Other recipes you will love:

• Bruschetta Chicken
• Bruschetta Pizza
• Italian Grilled Chicken with Cucumber Bruschetta
• Greek Salad Bruschetta
• Breaded Bruschetta Chicken
• Spinach Artichoke Dip

My little baby bouncing boy miiiight come out all red and rosy like a tomato-based on how many tomatoes I’ve been consuming, but at least he’s nice and healthy 😉 Enjoy, friends!!