Description
Elegant bruschetta recipe celebrates Italian culinary tradition with crisp bread, ripe tomatoes, and fresh basil. Seasonal ingredients and simple preparation create a delightful appetizer you’ll savor with friends and family.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 cups cherry or grape tomatoes, diced
- 1 baguette, sliced into ½ inch rounds
- ¼ cup fresh basil leaves, chopped
- 2 tbsps olive oil (for brushing)
- 2 tbsps olive oil
- 1 tbsp balsamic vinegar
- 1 garlic clove, minced
- ¼ tsp salt
- ¼ tsp black pepper
- Balsamic glaze (for drizzling)
- Shredded Parmesan cheese
Instructions
- Tomato Fusion: Combine finely diced ripe tomatoes with extra virgin olive oil, balsamic vinegar, minced garlic, salt, pepper, and chopped basil in a mixing bowl, allowing flavors to marry and develop depth for 15-20 minutes at room temperature.
- Bread Preparation: Preheat oven to 375F (190C), slice baguette diagonally into uniform pieces, then brush each slice with olive oil for optimal golden browning.
- Toasting Process: Arrange oiled bread slices on a baking sheet, bake until edges turn crisp and golden (8-10 minutes), creating a perfect crunchy foundation for the bruschetta.
- Assembly and Finishing: Once bread cools slightly, generously top each slice with the marinated tomato mixture, drizzle with balsamic glaze, sprinkle Parmesan cheese, and garnish with fresh basil leaves for a visually stunning and flavor-packed appetizer.
Notes
- Tomato Selection: Choose ripe, firm tomatoes like Roma or vine-ripened varieties for the best flavor and texture.
- Marinating Magic: Let tomato mixture rest at room temperature to allow flavors to develop and intensify, creating a more complex taste profile.
- Bread Toasting Technique: Watch bread carefully while baking to prevent burning; golden-brown edges indicate perfect crispness without charring.
- Gluten-Free Adaptation: Swap traditional baguette with gluten-free bread or use thick slices of roasted zucchini for a low-carb alternative.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Appetizer, Snacks
- Method: Mixing
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 3
- Calories: 180
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 150 mg
- Fat: 10 g
- Saturated Fat: 1.5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 18 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 4 g
- Cholesterol: 2 mg