Description
This Real Tomato and Basil Bruschetta recipe is a quick and vibrant Italian appetizer featuring ripe tomatoes, fresh basil, and crusty bread grilled to perfection. It’s a perfect starter or snack that brings together simple, high-quality ingredients with minimal prep and cook time, delivering fresh flavors in just 10 minutes.
Ingredients
Scale
Bread and Toppings
- 4 slices crusty bread (such as sourdough or ciabatta), sliced 1.5 cm (3/5″) thick
- Extra virgin olive oil, for brushing
- 1 garlic clove, halved (unpeeled)
Tomato Mixture
- 4 medium ripe and juicy tomatoes, at room temperature
- 1/4 cup basil leaves, roughly chopped
- 1 1/2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil (best quality)
- 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
- Black pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Preheat Grill: Preheat your grill, broiler, BBQ grill side, or griddle skillet on high to prepare for toasting the bread.
- Prepare Bread: Brush both sides of the bread slices lightly with extra virgin olive oil.
- Grill Bread: Place the oiled bread slices under the grill or on the grill side of the BBQ until toasted and golden, about 1-2 minutes per side. Remove from heat.
- Rub Garlic: While the bread is still warm, rub the cut side of the garlic clove over one side of each slice to infuse subtle garlic flavor.
- Make Tomato Topping: Dice the tomatoes into small pieces. In a bowl, combine diced tomatoes, chopped basil leaves, 1 1/2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil, kosher salt, and freshly ground black pepper to taste. Mix gently to combine.
- Assemble Bruschetta: Spoon the tomato mixture generously onto each bread slice and serve immediately to enjoy the fresh, vibrant flavors.
Notes
- Use the best quality extra virgin olive oil you can afford for maximum flavor.
- Choose ripe, juicy tomatoes for the freshest taste.
- Adjust salt and pepper according to preference.
- This dish is best served immediately to keep the bread crisp.
- For a variation, add a splash of balsamic vinegar to the tomato mixture.
