How to Make Bruschetta

If you have ever tasted bruschetta in your favorite Italian restaurant, you know how delicious it is, bursting with fresh-from-the-garden flavor.  Bruschetta is incredibly easy to make at home to treat yourself and your family or to impress and delight your guests.  It makes a lovely start to a meal or a welcome addition to a buffet or cocktail party table.

Ingredients:

1 ½ cups chopped fresh plum tomatoes

2 Tbsp diced red onion

1 large clove fresh garlic, minced

2 Tbsp chopped fresh basil

2 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil, divided

½ tsp red wine vinegar

Salt and pepper to taste

½ loaf French baguette or crusty Italian bread, sliced no more than 1” thick on the diagonal

Step 1:   Combine tomatoes, onion, garlic and basil in a bowl. Add 1/2 Tbsp. of the olive oil, vinegar, salt and pepper and mix well. Cover bowl and refrigerate for at least an hour.

Step 2:  Preheat the broiler, brush both sides of the bread slices with the remaining olive oil and broil for 90 seconds to 2 minutes, until slices begin to brown lightly.

Step 3:  Arrange the bread on a platter and spoon the chilled tomato mixture into a pile in the center of the platter.  Or, alternately, place about 2 Tbsp. of tomato mixture on each bread slice.  Serve immediately.

Tips and Warnings:

If desired, garnish with a chiffonnade (ribbons) of fresh basil or sprigs of Italian parsley.

Another nice garnish would parmesan cheese curls (made with a vegetable peeler).

For extra flavor, before brushing the bread slices with olive oil rub both sides with a peeled, fresh clove of garlic.

If serving the bread already topped with the tomato make sure to serve right away or the bread will get soggy.

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