Easy Bruschetta (Bruschetta al Pomodoro)

while bruschetta may seem like some fancy appetizer you have to get at a restaurant it is so easy to make at home! you only need 6 ingredients and a toaster.

Growing up I loved bruschetta. My favorite was when we went to a restaurant and they would bring it with the bread. As I got older I realized how easy it is to make at home. You seriously only need 6 ingredients. Bruschetta is naturally vegan and it is the best to make in the summer time because we have beautiful fresh tomatoes and basil.

bruschetta history

In Italy you will find all different kinds of bruschetta. The most common and well known will be bruschetta al pomodoro which is what we are making. In Italian the word abbrustolire means to toast. The word bruschetta originates from a dialect with the word bruscare. It is a classic antipasto and bruschetta dates back to being eaten in the Middle Ages since at that time meals were served on bread and not plates!

the ingredients

• Tomatoes: I personally opt for grape tomatoes since they are sweeter and I love them. You can use any tomatoes you like.
• Garlic: one clove of garlic is all you need to add in nice flavor.
• Basil: adds in color and flavor.
• Extra Virgin Olive Oil: you want a nice high quality EVOO for this, it adds richness to the dish.
• Bread: you can use any bread you like my personal favorite is semolina bread. However, any nice bakery bread will do.
• Flaky Sea Salt: adds saltiness when sprinkled on top.

tomato choice

I know I just briefly discussed it up above but I want to further dive into why I love grape tomatoes for this. Also, in Italian tomato is pomodoro. So, I find grape tomatoes to be the easiest to slice up thinly. They don’t have too much extra seeds or liquid like a beefsteak or heirloom tomato would. In the summer grape tomatoes are as sweet as candy and their skin is very thin too. I just personally find it to be the best tomato to use for this. However, if you need to use a different kind of tomato it will be fine and delicious I would opt for a cherry tomato next!

how much garlic do you really need?

For some reason there seems to be an idea online that you can never have too much garlic. Well, sadly I am here to tell you that is wrong. You 100 percent can have too much garlic. There’s also some crazy idea out there that Italians are garlic crazed. Yes, garlic is used but you do not need too much garlic. For this recipe you only need 1 garlic clove. When finely chopped it adds in lots of flavor and that is all you need otherwise it would be overbearing.

how to make bruschetta

The first thing you will do is chop up the basil, tomatoes, and garlic. Add it into a bowl with the extra virgin olive oil and let it sit for a few minutes. It allows all the flavors to meld together. Then slice your bread and toast it. I just pop it in the toasted but if you want to grill it in a pan or even throw in the oven/air-fryer. Finally, add your tomatoes on top of the bread, sprinkle with flaky sea salt, and garnish with basil. That is it so easy!

what else can I add to bruschetta

While bruschetta al pomodoro is a classic and in my opinion the best way to make it the options are endless. You can add any vegetables on top that you like. I had one in Italy that had olive tapenade on it, which was so delicious. I think some chopped zucchini would be delicious on here with the tomatoes. If you would like to add some vegan mozzarella or balsamic vinegar you definitely can.

more summer recipes

bruschetta faq

• Is this recipe nut free? Yes.
• Is this recipe soy free? Yes.
• Is this recipe gluten free? As long as you use gluten free bread then yes!
• Can I make this ahead of time? You can prepare the tomatoes and then right before serving toast the bread and add the tomatoes. Otherwise, it will get soggy.
• How can I save leftovers? While this recipe is a small serving if you do have any leftovers just place them in the fridge. It should last about a day keeping in the mind the bread will soften.

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