How to Cook Bruschetta

Bruschetta is full of flavor and nutrition.

Bruschetta is an Italian classic that is easy to make and enjoy. Bruschetta is a simple dish that involves placing a tomato-based mixture on small pieces of bread. The beauty of bruschetta is that you can modify the mixture and add whatever ingredients you desire. Bruschetta is perfect for a light lunch or an appetizer before dinner and doesn't take much time to make. As long as you like tomatoes and bread, you'll enjoy bruschetta. Add this to my Recipe Box.

Things You'll Need

• Plum tomatoes
• Boiling water
• Garlic
• Salt and pepper
• Extra virgin olive oil
• Balsamic vinegar
• Basil
• French baguette and Italian bread
• Baking sheet

Instructions

1. Place 6 whole, plum tomatoes in boiling water for one minute to assist in peeling the skin. Pull the tomatoes out of the water and score an "X" with a sharp knife on both ends. Grab skin around the X marks and pull until all the tomato's flesh is exposed.

2. Cut the tomatoes in half and remove the seeds with a spoon. Gently squeeze the tomato as well to remove extra juice. Dice the tomatoes and two cloves of garlic finely. Mix the two, along with a dash of salt and pepper, 1 tbsp. of extra virgin olive oil and 1 tsp. of balsamic vinegar in a bowl. Chop six to eight basil leaves and add the herb to the mixture as well.

3. Turn your oven on to 450 degrees Fahrenheit and move your rack to the top position. Slice the baguette into ½-inch thick slices -- cut the bread on a diagonal to increase the bread's surface area and to give it a chic look. Dip a pastry bush into the olive oil and coat one side of each slice with the oil.

4. Arrange the slices on a baking sheet with the olive oil sides down. Leave them in the oven for 5 or 6 minutes, or until the bread is golden and crispy.

5. Spoon the mixture on top of the bread slices right before you serve the bruschetta. You can also place the mixture into a serving bowl next to the bread and allow your guests to assemble the bruschetta themselves.

Tips & Warnings

• Rub raw garlic onto the bread slices before toasting them to add some flavor.

• Add meat, such as chicken to the mixture, or gorgonzola cheese. Prosciutto and olives also make for good additions.

References

• Simply Recipes: Bruschetta With Tomato and Basil
• Cooks.com: Open Face Chicken Bruschetta With Garlic Bread

Resources

• Read this Article in Spanish
• Read this Article in UK English
• Bruschetta