Italy · Appetizers and Sandwiches
Bruschetta
Grilled bread rubbed with raw garlic, drizzled with good olive oil, then piled high with ripe tomatoes and torn basil.
Ingredients
- baguette or ciabatta / focaccia1
- garlic cloves2
- ripe tomatoes (about 500 g)4
- small bunch fresh basil (about 15 leaves)1
- olive oil (2 tbsp for the bread, the rest for the tomatoes)50 ml
- mozzarella or parmesanto taste
- salt and pepperto taste
Method
- 1Cut the bread into slices about 1–1.5 cm thick (cut a baguette on a long diagonal). Toast the slices on a dry frying pan or grill until golden on both sides.
- 2While the slices are still hot, rub each one with a cut garlic clove (2 cloves for the whole batch), so the garlic melts into the bread. Drizzle with 2 tablespoons of the olive oil in total and set aside.
- 3Cut the tomatoes into small cubes, salt them and let them stand for 5–10 minutes, then drain off the excess juice. Chop the basil. Mix the tomatoes with the basil, the remaining olive oil (about 1½ tablespoons) and pepper; taste and add salt if needed.
- 4Spread the tomato mixture on the prepared bread slices. Sprinkle mozzarella or grated parmesan on top if desired. Serve immediately.