Bruschetta

Bruschetta

You do not need to travel to Italy to indulge in a delicious, traditional bruschetta. The beloved savoury snack is quite simple using a few high-quality ingredients – bread, tomatoes, basil, garlic, and olive oil – to create a flavourful toasted treat. This elevated, tomato-loaded garlic bread works well as a snack, entrée, or side dish – how you enjoy it is up to you!
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Instructions

  • Mix basil, 3 tbsp of the oil, garlic, salt, and pepper.
  • Brush the cut side of the bread with this oil and broil or toast the bread on both sides.
  • Mix the diced tomatoes with the remaining 1 tbsp of oil.
  • Transfer the tomato mixture to the 4 pieces of toasted bread and serve.
Enjoy!
Tips

An authentic bruschetta is known for its perfectly toasted bread which gives it its crunchy texture. This effect may be achieved by using an oven or toaster oven. If you choose to use your regular oven, crisp up the bread by baking it for 6-8 minutes at 220°C (regular oven) until the bread's edges have been lightly browned. Remember to place the bread slices in a single layer and turn them over once. Let the toasted bread slices cool slightly on a wire rack before topping them with oil and marinated tomatoes. Serve them while they are still warm though. If you happen to be having a barbeque and have your grill fired up, you can even prepare the bread directly on the grill.

Questions about bruschetta

Our Italian bruschetta recipe is simple to follow which means you can be enjoying these toasty and fresh treats in no time. Below, you can learn more about the classic Italian dish, including how to store and serve it, so you can get ready to make it yourself.

What is bruschetta?
Tomato bruschetta is a well-loved Italian dish that is often enjoyed as a snack, an entree, or a side dish to the main course like soup, pasta, or a meat dish. It is made by toasting slices of bread that have been lightly brushed with garlic and basil-infused olive oil and topping the toasted bread with fresh, diced tomatoes that have been allowed to marinate in the same flavourful oil.
How to make bruschetta?
With how scrumptious this toasted treat tastes, you would not think that making bruschetta was that easy. It really is though. Simply prepare your oil mixture and brush some on the bread slices before broiling or toasting them as you marinate the fresh tomatoes that will go on top. Serve your homemade treats as a savoury snack or as an entree or side dish to an Italian-inspired menu that will make you want to get out your red and white checkered tablecloth and most decorative candelabra.
What bread is used for bruschetta?
Traditionally, the entree was made using an Italian-style bread known as Pagnotta. This bread has a light brown crust and is similar to sourdough bread in its flavour as well as texture. However, you can make the dish using a vast variety of different breads like ciabatta, baguette, sourdough bread, and white bread. Because the bread for bruschetta is broiled or toasted, it does not have to be freshly baked, meaning you can make homemade bruschetta with bread that may be a few days old and getting a bit stale rather than tossing it.
Can you freeze bruschetta?
We do not recommend freezing bruschetta. You can freeze the bread for up to 3 months, but it is not recommendable to freeze the tomato mixture. Instead, use fresh tomatoes every time.
How to serve bruschetta?
Serve this Italian treat immediately after topping the warm, toasted bread with basil and garlic-marinated tomatoes. It is an ideal entree or snack for large gatherings as preparing many at a time is easy. You can simply double, triple, or quadruple our recipe depending on how many friends and family members you want to treat to this Italian classic. The dish also functions very well as a side dish to main courses like soup and pasta.
How long does bruschetta last?
If you store it properly, your prepared dish will keep for up to 5 days in the refrigerator. It is important to store the bread and tomato mixture separately. Otherwise, the fresh tomatoes will make the bread soggy. Place the tomato mixture in an airtight container and the bread in a similar container or bag. When you are ready to enjoy any leftover or preprepared Italian treats, toast or broil the bread and top it with marinated tomato mixture.
Is bruschetta warm or cold?
In a sense, this classic Italian dish is both warm and cold. While the broiled or toasted bread is hot, the basil and garlic-marinated tomatoes are not cooked in any way and are, as such, cold. The dish should ideally be served while the bruschetta bread is still warm.

Ingredients

Coarsely chopped, fresh basil leaves
1 dl
Olive oil
4 tbsp
Small finely chopped garlic cloves
2
Flaky salt
1 tsp
Freshly ground pepper
Italian bread – split along the middle and halved (approx. 300 g)
1
Ripe, diced tomatoes (approx. 350 g)
4
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Tomato bruschetta with garlic and basil

While bruschetta recipes date back to Ancient Rome, the dish is still an immensely popular Italian antipasto, that is entrée. And really, it is no wonder why. A bruschetta with tomato and basil is a delightful treat. The still-warm bread topped with fresh tomatoes in olive oil infused with fresh basil and garlic brings you many of the most well-known flavours from Italian cuisine in a simple dish that takes very little time to prepare.

Use only high-quality toppings for bruschetta

Alongside the crispy, toasted bread with its crunchy texture, the toppings are what this Italian classic is all about. As it is a simple dish, the flavour profile of the topping must be on point. Therefore, we recommend only using the very best ingredients for bruschetta. This entails finding good fresh basil, ripe tomatoes, and high-quality olive oil.

While dried basil could perhaps be used in a pinch, basil leaves provide the dish with a freshness unparalleled by the dried herb. Fresh basil tastes both sweet and savoury and has hints of mint and pepper alike. This complex flavour complements both the pungent garlic and the sweet and slightly tangy tomatoes incredibly well. The best tomatoes for bruschetta are ripe ones. The type matters less than their ripeness, and you can use everything from big Roma tomatoes to small cherry tomatoes.

An Italian classic with multiple uses

Whether you decide to indulge in these crispy pieces of bread with beautifully marinated tomatoes as an entree, snack, or side dish, the toasted treat with beautifully fresh produce is delicious. It is its simplicity that makes it suitable for eating on different occasions and for different meals, thus guaranteeing that you will not tire of it any time soon! Serve it as a light snack before dinner, as a crunchy side dish for pasta or lasagne, or grill a big batch of bruschetta for a barbeque served alongside your favourite barbeque dishes.

If you are looking for more Italian dishes, either for serving with bruschetta on the side or on their own, we recommend checking out our recipes for panini bread and a pizza dough as well. Choose your favourite toppings and fillings and enjoy. You can also make the all-time favourite Italian dish: lasagne.

Try making a bruschetta with mozzarella

Play around with our recipe by experimenting with the toppings. Toasted bread like the kind used to make this dish tastes great with any number of toppings, and as such, ideas for classic bruschetta toppings are numerous. A classic one is mozzarella. This rich, creamy, Italian soft cheese works well with the flavours of olive oil, basil, and tomatoes, making for a delicious, irresistible bruschetta with mozzarella.

You can also choose to drizzle your broiled mozzarella treat with intense balsamic vinegar or an acidic gremolata made with lemon zest and fresh parsley. Either of these choices will brighten the richness of the soft cheese and make for a well-rounded eating experience.

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