Italian Bruschetta

Italian food is known for its simplicity, and that is exactly what makes this Italian Bruschetta so great. You will love making this flavorful dish with its fresh and simple ingredients.

What is Italian Bruschetta?

This bruschetta recipe is certainly what many people think of when they hear bruschetta is being served. However, the word bruschetta very simply refers to the foundation of the recipe, the bread. Bruschetta actually means bread with some sort of topping. It does not need to be tomatoes.

If you were to travel to Italy, you would find so many variations of bruschetta with different toppings, depending on the region. The most common bruschetta? Toasted bread rubbed with garlic, and then drizzled with olive oil with a sprinkle of salt. Simple, Italian food at its finest.

Bruschetta Making Tips

Because bruschetta is so simple, the important thing is to ensure you have quality and fresh ingredients. For this recipe, I was lucky enough to have cherry tomatoes from my girlfriend’s garden, and they were spectacular. There is nothing like home grown tomatoes in the summer. Quality tomatoes equals quality bruschetta.

The other key component is, of course, the bread. I did not make my Homemade Italian Bread for this recipe because I wanted smaller sized slices. I used a Ciabatta bread that I got from Whole Foods, which is always a good option. It is okay to not make your own bread, this is meant to be a simple dish you can make anytime!

My favorite tip to share is to take pieces of garlic and rub them on each slice after they come out of the oven. It brings so much flavor to the bread and takes the bruschetta to another level. The pieces of garlic literally melt down as you rub them, and I always eat the little pieces leftover. True garlic lover over here, but trust me this is a step you don’t want to skip.

Shopping List for Italian Bruschetta

• 1.5 lbs. Cherry Tomatoes
• Fresh Basil
• 1 loaf Ciabatta bread
• Extra Virgin Olive Oil
• Balsamic Vinegar
• Garlic
• Salt & Pepper

Using fresh basil is so important. Again, what makes bruschetta so great is the fresh ingredients. The best way to slice your basil is to use the chiffonade method. Chiffonade simply means laying a few pieces of basil (or whatever you are slicing) on top of each other, roll them up into a tight cylinder, then make thin slices across. You end up with delicate ribbon pieces that not only bring fresh flavor but a nice pop of color to your bruschetta.

Here is a video tutorial if you want to see how its done!

Let’s serve!

Bruschetta does not need to be fancy, but it is fun to plate in different ways. I served my bruschetta on a long rectangular plate with burrata cheese in the center and surrounded it with the individual slices. I think it is important to prepare the bruschetta as people are ready to eat it, so that the bread does not get soggy and the dish is as fresh as possible.

I hope you enjoy, and please leave a comment below!