Tomato Bruschetta

Made with fresh, ripe tomatoes, basil, and toasted bread, this easy recipe for Tomato Bruschetta makes a perfect appetizer for any gathering!

While this recipe is simple, if you pay attention to a few details, you will make restaurant-quality Tomato Bruschetta easily at home.

What is Tomato Bruschetta?

Bruschetta, pronounced Brus-ketta, is known in Italy as grilled bread rubbed with garlic and topped with olive oil and salt. It is a simple appetizer that can be served up with endless toppings. My favorite being tomatoes.

Tomato Bruschetta is made with toasted bread that is topped with a mixture of garden-fresh tomatoes, basil, garlic, and olive oil.

It is light. It is fresh. It is elegant. It is absolutely one of the best ways to enjoy fresh tomatoes. And it couldn't be simpler to make!

Ingredients Needed for Tomato Bruschetta

• Tomatoes: Use the freshest, ripest tomatoes possible. This is the ideal time to use garden, vine-ripened tomatoes. If you are making this outside the summer months, or when tomatoes are in season, opt to use grape or cherry tomatoes which are always bursting with flavor.
• Bread: Use a baguette or a small loaf of French or Italian bread, that has been cut into thick slices for the base of the bruschetta
• Garlic: Garlic cloves are used to infuse flavor into the tomato topping and to season the bread. For the best flavor, use a fresh clove of garlic instead of a jar of minced garlic.
• Extra Virgin Olive oil: The better the olive oil, the better the taste of the bruschetta. Look for one labeled cold-pressed and that originates from one single country.
• Basil: Select basil that is bright green, without blemish. If you don't care for basil, simply omit it.

How To Make Tomato Bruschetta

• Cut tomatoes in half and then use a spoon to scoop out watery seeds.

• Dice the tomatoes into ½ inch pieces and place them into a mixing bowl.
• Roll up the basil leaves into a cigar shape. Slice into thin ribbons.

• Using a Microplane, grate 1 clove of the fresh garlic over the diced tomatoes. This will ensure the garlic will properly flavor the bruschetta topping, without the worry of biting into a large chunk of garlic.
• Add the basil to the tomatoes along with 1 ½ tablespoons of olive oil. Season generously with salt.

• Gently toss together and let the mixture sit at room temperature for 10 minutes while you prepare the bread.
• Cut the bread into ½ inch slices.
• Place the sliced bread onto a baking sheet. Drizzle or brush each slice of bread with the remaining ½ tablespoon of olive oil.

• Toast in the oven for 10 minutes, flipping bread over after 5 minutes.
• Remove toasted bread from the oven and rub each slice of bread with a peeled garlic clove. This will infuse so much flavor into the bread and really helps to set your bruschetta above the rest.
• To serve, dollop the tomato mixture over the toasted bread, and if desired, drizzle with more extra virgin olive oil
• Serve immediately.

Serving Bruschetta for a Gathering

Because the bread will become soggy if you assemble the bruschetta more than 15-20 minutes before serving, you will want to serve the toasted bread and tomato topping separately and allow guests to assemble themselves.

Storage

Tomato Bruschetta is best served within a few hours of preparation. If you happen to have leftover tomato topping, you can store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 24 hours. Just keep in mind that tomatoes lose their flavor after being refrigerated.

If you have leftover toasted bread it is best to use for homemade croutons.

Modifications

• Tomato Bruschetta is delicious when prepared with the addition of cheese. Grate fresh parmesan over the tomato topping right before serving or add diced fresh mozzarella to the tomato mixture.
• If you don't care for garlic, simply omit it from the filling and the toasted bread.
• Instead of using fresh basil, try adding up to 1 teaspoon of fresh oregano to the tomato mixture.
• A finely minced shallot is a delicious addition to the tomato bruschetta topping. I don't recommend using yellow or red onions as they can overwhelm your palate when eaten raw.
• For a briny kick, add a couple of tablespoons of Kalamative olives to the tomato mixture.
• Tomato Bruschetta is also delicious when served with a drizzle of thickened balsamic vinegar.

Fresh Tomato Recipes

• Tomato Pizza
• Homemade Salsa Recipe
• Caprese Salad
• Mozzarella and Tomato Quinoa Bake 

If you enjoyed this recipe for Tomato Bruschetta, I would love for you to leave a comment and review below.