Description
Classic Homemade Bruschetta is a simple and flavorful Italian appetizer featuring fresh diced tomatoes, garlic, basil, and balsamic vinegar served on toasted slices of baguette or Italian bread. This recipe combines the freshness of ripe tomatoes with aromatic basil and a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil to create a delicious and easy-to-make starter perfect for any occasion.
Ingredients
Scale
Tomato Mixture
- 4 medium Fresh Tomatoes (Diced into small cubes)
- 1/2 cup Fresh Basil (Roughly chopped)
- 2 cloves Garlic (Finely minced)
- 3 tablespoons Extra Virgin Olive Oil (High-quality oil recommended)
- 1 tablespoon Balsamic Vinegar (Adjust according to taste)
- Salt to taste
- Freshly cracked black pepper to taste
Bread
- 1 loaf Baguette or Italian Bread (Sliced into 1/2-inch thick pieces)
Instructions
- Prepare Tomatoes: Dice the fresh tomatoes into small cubes and place them in a mixing bowl.
- Add Garlic: Add the finely minced garlic to the bowl with the tomatoes.
- Add Basil: Add the roughly chopped fresh basil to the tomato and garlic mixture.
- Add Olive Oil: Drizzle 3 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil over the mixture.
- Add Balsamic Vinegar: Include 1 tablespoon of balsamic vinegar and stir gently to combine.
- Season: Season with salt and freshly cracked black pepper to taste and mix well.
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C) for toasting the bread slices.
- Slice Bread: Slice the baguette or Italian bread into 1/2-inch thick slices.
- Arrange Bread: Place the bread slices on a baking sheet in a single layer.
- Toast Bread: Toast the bread slices in the preheated oven for about 5-7 minutes, or until they are golden brown and crispy.
- Cool Bread: Remove the toasted bread from the oven and let it cool slightly.
- Assemble Bruschetta: Spoon a generous amount of the tomato mixture onto each slice of toasted bread.
- Finish with Olive Oil: Drizzle a little more extra virgin olive oil over the assembled bruschetta before serving.
- Serve: Serve immediately while the bread is still warm and crispy for the best flavor and texture experience.
Notes
- Use ripe, fresh tomatoes for the best flavor.
- Adjust balsamic vinegar according to your preference for sweetness and tang.
- To prevent soggy bread, toast the slices until very crispy.
- Serve immediately after assembling to retain the toasted bread’s crunchiness.
- Optionally, rub the toasted bread slices with a cut garlic clove before adding the tomato mixture for extra garlic flavor.
