Fresh tomatoes and garden-grown basil come together to create the most delicious and EASY Bruschetta recipe. Use bagel chips or toasted bread to dip, or add this mixture to pasta with cheese!
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Why this Recipe Works
Making homemade bruschetta is one of the main reasons I started gardening many years ago. I really wanted the fresh Roma tomatoes and garden grown basil so I could make my own bruschetta.
This bruschetta is perfect as a game day snack or make into a meal. I usually make a double batch so we can snack on one while toss the second batch with pasta and grilled chicken or turkey meatballs.
What is Bruschetta?
Bruschetta (pronounced broo·skeh·tuh) is a classic Italian appetizer that brings the freshest flavors of summer together!
Using fresh ingredients like tomatoes, basil, garlic and olive oil, this is the best bruschetta recipe you will find!
Ingredients Notes
Using fresh ingredients makes bruschetta taste that much better.
- Tomatoes – roma taste best!
- Basil leaves
- Garlic (about 9 cloves)– chopped (not pressed)
- Red wine vinegar
- Parmesan cheese– shredded
- Kosher salt
- Ground black pepper
- Extra virgin olive oil
- Melba Toast (or bagel chips)– homemade bagel chips are a delicious addition.
Easy Instructions
Step 1: In a bowl, toss in the tomatoes, basil, garlic, and parmesan cheese, until each bite has a sufficient amount of each. Add more if necessary.
Step 2: Sprinkle in salt and pepper to taste, red wine vinegar, and stir. Add olive oil. The mixture should be nice and shiny. Let it sit in the refrigerator for about an hour to allow the flavors to mingle.
How to Make Bruschetta—Balsamic Glaze
In restaurants, you’ll often find bruschetta served with a balsamic glaze. I love to use this when serving our bruschetta with angel hair pasta or over toasted french bread.
Heat balsamic vinegar in a small saucepan over medium high heat until it starts to boil. Cook for 4 to 5 minutes until the sauce thickens. Remove from heat and drizzle over your bruschetta.
Serving Suggestions
Bruschetta is delicious as an appetizer or made into a meal.
As an appetizer: To make bruschetta bread, hollow out a loaf of french bread. Spoon in the tomato mixture and top it with an extra 1/2 cup of shredded parmesan cheese.
Bake in a 450 degree oven on a large baking sheet for about 10 minutes, until the cheese is melted and the bread is toasted. Cut and enjoy.
Types of bread to serve it with: Bruschetta is best served with toasted french bread, bagel chips, or Melba crackers.
As a meal: Turn this easy bruschetta recipe into a meal by adding it to pasta. Prepare noodles according to package (I like using angel hair pasta noodles). Grill chicken with salt and pepper. Slice into thin strips.
Heat bruschetta in microwave for about 2-3 minutes, until warmed. Serve over warm pasta with chicken strips and extra parmesan cheese. Enjoy!
Bruschetta Salmon- top baked salmon with fresh bruschetta and avocado for a heart healthy dinner.
Pair Bruschetta with your favorite Italian Dinners, like Chicken Piccata, Lasagna, and Spaghetti!
Recipe FAQs
This easy bruschetta recipe tastes best fresh but can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 3 days in an airtight container. You can also use the liquid in the bottom of the bowl as dressing on a salad! Yum!
Bruschetta and caprese are very similar, however most caprese recipes include mozzarella.
Bruschetta can be served either way, warm or cold. Eat it cold with toasted bread or bagel chips. Or serve it warm with pasta, grilled chicken, or french bread.
Tips and Tricks
- Don’t refrigerate your tomatoes in advance. You’ll get a better texture and flavor from your bruschetta if you keep tomatoes at room temperature.
- The best types of tomatoes for bruschetta are Roma. Using fresh, juicy and ripe tomatoes will give you the best bruschetta. Just remember, good tomatoes equals good bruschetta.
- Serve bruschetta on toasted baguette slices, with Melba crackers, or with bagel chips.
- Use fresh basil to make the best bruschetta. You can buy fresh basil from the store, but it will cost you. Don’t use dried basil. It will not give you the same summer flavors. In a pinch, I have used the tube of fresh basil (it looks like a tube of toothpaste, but it’s fresh and works better than dried basil).
- Drizzle a little balsamic glaze over the tops of your grilled bread for an extra flavor.
More Fresh Tomato Recipes
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Bruschetta Recipe
Ingredients
- 10 Roma tomatoes diced
- 1 cup basil leaves chopped
- ½ head of garlic about 9 cloves, chopped (not pressed)
- ¾ teaspoon red wine vinegar
- ½ cup shredded parmesan cheese
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- ⅛ teaspoon ground black pepper
- ⅓ cup olive oil
- Melba Toast or bagel chips
Instructions
- Mix tomatoes, basil, garlic and cheese until each bite has a sufficient amount of each. Add more if necessary. Toss in salt and pepper,red wine vinegar and stir. Add olive oil. Should be nice and shiny. Let sit in refrigerator to allow flavors to mingle. Enjoy!
- To make bruschetta bread, hollow out a loaf of french bread. Spoon in the bruschetta and top with an extra 1/2 cup of shredded parmesan cheese. Bake in a 450 degree oven for about 10 minutes, until cheese is melted and bread is toasted. Cut and enjoy.
- For pasta, prepare noodles according to package (I like angel hair pasta). Grill chicken with salt and pepper. Slice into thin strips. Heat bruschetta in microwave for about 2-3 minutes, until warmed. Serve over warm pasta with chicken strips and extra parmesan cheese. Enjoy!
Notes
Nutrition
Fresh tomatoes and basil create the most delicious, EASY Bruschetta. Use bagel chips to dip, or add this to pasta with cheese!
Thank you for sharing the recipe! It is very simple and tasty and most importantly is best suited for summer 🙂
Grilling the bread makes the toppings taste so good! We love a good tradition antipasto like this!
I’ve made this numerous times and it never lasts long! This is such a delicious recipe. Thank you!
Great recipe for summer parties!
Bruschetta is one of my favorite things ever and your recipe surely did not disappoint! Loved it!
That little hint of vinegar in these just takes them over the top, so delicious!
Yum! I love anything tomato! 🙂
I love the freshness and bright flavors of bruschetta. Yours looks absolutely perfect!
This is definitely a reason to have a garden! Thanks for the extra serving tips, too.
This looks so good Aimee! I LOVE bruschetta! One of these days I’ll try my hand at growing herbs. I had it on my list of things to do this summer…never quite got to that section of the list. 😉
I love Bruschetta. Its so fresh, healthy and so yummy! Great pics as always Aimee!
I don’t do well with plants but I even started an “herb” garden after I saw how expensive basil was!! Looks yummy!!
I adore anything with tomatoes and basil! This looks right up my alley…DELISH!
I had no idea that it was this simple to make! Go figure. Thanks for the recipe! Stopping by from FTLB’s Tasty Tuesday 🙂
I love this…It makes me want to start chopping my garden tomato’s right now!
This looks mouthwatering and awesome. Great picture. Yum. Come over and visit us. We have a wonderful grilled squash recipe.
Aimee- You’ve got my tastebuds going. That bruschetta looks amazing!
Thank you!! I’ve been looking for a recipe ever since I had it a few weeks ago at a scrapbooking crop. I couldn’t seem to find just a simple, regular recipe – they all had odd ingredients or just seemed over the top. I can’t wait to make this!