Italian Bruschetta Recipes

Pronounced broo-sket-ta, it is another preparation of Italian cuisine that has been adopted and modified the world over. In its basic form, it is a slice of grilled Italian bread, rubbed with garlic, sprinkled with salt and pepper and drizzled with olive oil. The bread was traditionally roasted on a brustolina grill. It is a wonderful accompaniment for red wine, as it brings out its flavor. These days the term bruschetta has come to signify garlic toast topped with diced tomatoes.

Italian Tomato Bruschetta

Ingredients

• 1 loaf crusty baguette
• 8 medium tomatoes, diced
• ½ red onion, diced
• 3 cloves of crushed garlic
• ¼ cup of fresh basil, finely chopped
• ½ cup balsamic vinegar
• ½ cup extra virgin olive oil
• Salt and pepper to taste

Preparation

1. In a large bowl, mix the chopped onions, tomatoes, garlic and basil.
2. Add the balsamic vinegar and extra virgin olive oil. Then add salt and pepper to taste. Cover it and refrigerate it for at least an hour. This will allow the flavors soak and blend together.
3. Slice the baguette loaf diagonally, into thick slices. Now tightly toast the slices, till they are light brown on both sides.
4. Serve the chilled mixture on the warm slices of bread.

Italian Bruschetta with Red bell peppers and Corn

Ingredients

• 1 loaf of Italian or French bread
• ¼ cup chopped olives
• 4-5 sprigs of fresh basil leaves, chopped
• 1 red bell pepper, finely chopped
• 2 medium sized plum tomatoes, de-seeded and finely chopped
• 1 tsp of rosemary, fresh or dried(optional)
• 1 ear of boiled corn
• Slices of mozzarella cheese
• 2 tbsps of extra-virgin olive oil
• 4 cloves of garlic
• freshly ground black pepper
• Salt as per taste

Preparation

1. Diagonally slice the loaf of bread into thick slices. Roast the bread on the grill till golden brown. Rub the cloves of garlic on the slices and drizzle a bit of extra virgin olive oil onto them.
2. Cut the corn from the cob. Mix the basil leaves, remaining olive oil, rosemary, chopped tomatoes, chopped olives, corn and red bell pepper. Season it with salt and pepper.
3. Set the oven to 350 degrees F. Spread the mixture on each slice of bread and cover it with a slice of mozzarella cheese. Slide the slices into the oven till the cheese melts.
4. Your scrumptious bruschettas are ready to be served!

Other popular Bruschetta Toppings

• Pestos, Capers or Anchovy paste
• Marinated artichoke hearts
• Sautéed wild mushrooms
• Cannellini bean dip
• Hot Italian peppers with feta cheese
• Thin slivers of Parmigiano Romano
• Grilled eggplant, goat cheese and basil oil
• Porcini mushrooms (in season) with lemon juice and truffle oil
• Mascarpone and figs (in season), topped with a thin slice of prosciutto
• Small cocktail shrimp sautéed with garlic, olive oil, lemon and capers

Traditionally, bruschettas were meant to be a light hors d'oeuvre. Depending on the ingredients, it may be served as a heavy snack or a side dish along with the main course. One way to prepare it, is to combine it with your favorite ingredient, be it shrimp or mushroom. My choice would be close my eyes and imagine myself in a little Tuscan ristorante, enjoying the authentic bruschetta with a glass of wine.