Homemade Bruschetta
Today’s Homemade Bruschetta recipe is a restaurant-worth appetizer featuring juicy, marinated tomatoes garnished with earthy basil and salty Parmesan, served on top of golden toasted bread. It’s the perfect two-bite appetizer to serve at BBQs or parties, but especially before indulging in other classic Italian dishes.
Homemade Bruschetta Recipe
Bruschetta (pronounced brew-SKET-tah) is hands-down my family’s favorite appetizer to order whenever we see it on a menu.
It’s a classic Italian appetizer (or “antipasti”) featuring juicy, marinated tomatoes served on toasted or grilled sliced bread. While slices of ciabatta is more traditional, most North American restaurants that I’ve been to serve bruschetta on slices of baguette, so that’s what we did for today’s homemade bruschetta recipe.
(Serving on slices of baguette also makes this recipe a delicate two-bite finger food, perfect for those of us whose appetite would be spoiled if we ate half a ciabatta roll right before dinner.)
While many of our tomato-based recipes use canned tomatoes, this is one recipe that requires fresh tomatoes and ideally, fresh basil, for the best flavor and texture.
We love bruschetta so much we’ve made several bruschetta-inspired recipes:
- Bruschetta Chicken
- Bruschetta Pasta Salad (with Video)
- Mango Bruschetta
Suggested Variations for this Bruschetta Recipe:
- Spread a flavoured aioli on the toasted bread or drizzle overtop of the tomatoes
- Drizzle with balsamic glaze for a sweet tangy touch
- Incorporate chopped red onions
- Add finely chopped mozzarella cheese to the bruschetta mix
- Add some prosciutto or other Italian meat, either a small slice just below the tomato mixture or chopped up and mixed in for a salty-umami flavor
- Spice it up with a teaspoon of crushed red pepper flakes
Can bruschetta be made ahead: Personally, I like to make the bruschetta’s topping mixture in advance and allow the mixture to sit in the fridge for a couple hours to develop more complexity of flavors, but I like to prepare the bread just before serving so it’s still warm.
How to store bruschetta: Store leftovers in airtight containers in the fridge for up to 1 day. I prefer to store the tomato topping and toasted bread separately so that the bread doesn’t get soggy.
I do not recommend freezing this recipe.
How to chiffonade basil: Chiffonade is a method of slicing herbs or leafy green vegetables to prevent them from bruising or tearing. To chiffonade the basil, stack a few basil leaves on top of each other and then roll them tightly (like a cigar). Using a sharp knife, slice the leaves perpendicular to the roll, creating beautiful ribbons of basil that are not bruised or torn.
More Classic Italian Recipes the Whole Family will Love:
- Anthony Bourdain’s Sunday Gravy (with Video)
- Baked Chicken Parmesan
- Instant Pot Chicken Piccata
- Penne Alla Vodka
- Milk Poached Chicken (with Video)
- Homemade Pizza Dough
- Zucchini Noodle Lasagna
- Classic Tiramisu
- Easy Garlic Knots from In the Kids’ Kitchen
- Low-Carb Italian Sub Salad from Sizzle and Salt
Bruschetta Ingredients
- Tomatoes, finely diced
- Olive Oil
- Garlic, minced
- Balsamic Vinegar
- Salt and Pepper, to preference
- Basil Leaves, cut into strips
- Baguette
- Parmesan Cheese, as desired
Scroll down to the printable recipe card for full measurements.
Tip: make the bruschetta’s topping mixture in advance and allow the mixture to sit in the fridge for a couple hours to develop more complexity of flavors.
Kitchen Tools You May Find Helpful
- Measuring Cups and Spoons
- Sharp Knife
- Cutting Board
- Cookie Sheet
- Microplane Grater
- Pastry Brush
How to Make Bruschetta
In a skillet over medium heat, heat 2 Tablespoons of the olive oil. Once hot, add the minced garlic and cook 2 minutes. Remove from heat and allow to cool as you prepared the tomatoes.
Finely dice tomatoes and place in a medium-sized bowl.
Pour the garlic-infused olive oil into the bowl, along with the balsamic vinegar, salt, pepper and basil. Stir to combine and set aside to marinate for 30 minutes.
Preheat oven to 400F.
Slice baguette into 1.5″ slices. Brush both sides of each slice with olive oil and place on an ungreased baking sheet.
Bake for 5 minutes, then flip and bake for another 5 minutes until golden.
Top the baguette slices with the tomato mixture and then garnish with Parmesan cheese, as desired.
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Homemade Bruschetta
Homemade Bruschetta recipe is a restaurant-worth appetizer featuring juicy, marinated tomatoes garnished with earthy basil and salty Parmesan, served on top of golden toasted bread. It’s the perfect two-bite appetizer to serve at BBQs or parties, but especially before indulging in other classic Italian dishes.
Ingredients
- 4 Tomatoes, finely diced
- 1/3 cup Olive Oil
- 2 Cloves Garlic, minced
- 2 Tablespoons Balsamic Vinegar
- Salt and Pepper, to preference
- 1/4 cup Basil Leaves, cut into strips
- 1 Baguette
- Parmesan Cheese, as desired
Instructions
- In a skillet over medium heat, heat 2 Tablespoons of the olive oil. Once hot, add the minced garlic and cook 2 minutes. Remove from heat and allow to cool as you prepared the tomatoes.
- Finely dice tomatoes and place in a medium-sized bowl.
- Pour the garlic-infused olive oil into the bowl, along with the balsamic vinegar, salt, pepper and basil. Stir to combine and set aside to marinate for 30 minutes.
- Preheat oven to 400F.
- Slice baguette into 1.5" slices. Brush both sides of each slice with olive oil and place on an ungreased baking sheet.
- Bake for 5 minutes, then flip and bake for another 5 minutes until golden.
- Top the baguette slices with the tomato mixture and then garnish with Parmesan cheese, as desired.
Notes
How to chiffonade basil: Chiffonade is a method of slicing herbs or leafy green vegetables to prevent them from bruising or tearing. To chiffonade the basil, stack a few basil leaves on top of each other and then roll them tightly (like a cigar). Using a sharp knife, slice the leaves perpendicular to the roll, creating beautiful ribbons of basil that are not bruised or torn.
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Nutrition Information:
Yield:
16Serving Size:
1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 104Total Fat: 5gSaturated Fat: 1gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 4gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 148mgCarbohydrates: 12gFiber: 1gSugar: 2gProtein: 3g
Sugar, Spice and Glitter uses an auto-generate nutrition calculator. Nutrition information isn’t always accurate unless analyzed in a scientific lab, so these should be considered more of a guideline than medical information.
I hope your family loves this easy bruschetta recipe as much as mine does!
For more amazing appetizers, check out our full appetizer recipe collection here:
