Easy Italian Tomato Bruschetta
Tomato Bruschetta, is a must for every outdoor grilling or barbecue meal. Grill up some slice Italian bread, then top with a mixture of fresh tomatoes, olive oil and herbs. Italian never tasted so good.
When I first came to Italy, more years than I care to admit! Bruschetta along with Tiramisu were one of the foods I had never heard of or even tried. Bruschetta, in Italian ch is pronounced like the letter k. But I soon discovered it was one of the many things that I had been missing!
The first time the barbecue was lit, (no gas barbecue was in sight at the time) I remember my mother-in-law would use the stem prunings from the vineyard. She would light them up, put a grill over them, cut the day old Italian crusty bread (which is the best bread for bruschetta), usually it was her homemade bread, and toast it to perfection.
Once the bread was toasted, she would sprinkle some salt and drizzle olive oil on top of the bread. Of course she used oil from the olives that had been picked the previous November. As the bread was grilling, my sister-in-law would be in the kitchen chopping the freshly picked tomatoes, a different combination of tomatoes are the best.
Italians love to eat Bruschetta the traditional way, after the bread has been grilled then rub a a clove of garlic on the bread, drizzle with some olive oil and sprinkle with salt. This is the Traditional Italian Bruschetta, so good! The toppings are extra.
Bruschetta is something that must be eaten immediately! You cannot and should not store it for later. Make it and eat it!
How to make the Best Tomato Bruschetta!
- To start you need the perfect bread, homemade is the best because you need a compact crumb one that remains crunchy while absorbing the seasonings well. Never use packaged bread.
- The perfect bruschetta bread should be hot and crunchy. The best way to toast it is either on a pan grill or BBQ. Cut the slices about 1/4 thick. Don’t over grill them, they should be golden while still a little soft in the middle.
How to make a Tomato Bruschetta:
A couple of ripe but firm tomatoes and one or two a little on the green side, which the Italian loves. Of course don’t forget some green onions, celery, fresh basil and Italian parsley from the garden, then toss them together in a bowl with olive oil and salt.
Bruschetta Recipe
A little drizzle of Balsamic Glaze doesn’t hurt either, but if you can’t find the glaze, regular Balsamic works just fine too. How can something so simple be so delicious?
After that first taste, I totally understood why my husband came back for the food!
More Delicious Bruschetta Recipes
- Easy Tomato Avocado Feta Bruschetta
- Simple Traditional Italian Bruschetta
- Cheesy Sausage Bruschetta Recipe
Even if you don’t have a garden full of all these fresh vegetables, try to get as close as you can, visit your local farms or farmers’ markets for fresh and organic products. You can also plant vegetables in pots, just like flowers, I did that for years.
Believe me it will be so worth it! Especially now with the warm weather and BBQ season upon us, nothing like a delicious side dish or appetizer of Easy Italian Tomato Bruschetta.
Nowadays you don’t even need the barbecue to make Bruschetta, a simple Pan Grill will suffice, so start chopping and Happy Grilling. Buon Appetito!
Easy Italian Tomato bruschetta
Ingredients
BRUSCHETTA RECIPE
- 6 slices bread*
- 1-2 cloves garlic
- 2-3 pinches salt
*Best is day old homemade bread or Italian crusty bread, a bread with a compact crumb.
TOMATO TOPPING
- 4 medium to large firm ripe tomatoes (chopped / I remove the seeds and extra pulp)
- ½ red onion (chopped)
- 1 celery stalk (chopped)
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1½ teaspoons oregano
- 4-5 leaves fresh basil and parsley chopped
- ¼ cup olive oil
Instructions
BRUSCHETTA RECIPE
- Heat pan grill or BBQ to hot and keep temperature relatively high, place sliced bread and turn until toasted golden, remove and if desired rub with a clove of garlic, sprinkle with a little salt then top with the tomato topping, serve immediately.
TOMATO TOPPING
- In a medium bowl mix together the chopped tomatoes, red onion, celery, salt, oregano fresh basil and olive oil, serve over freshly toasted bread, if you like, a little drizzle of Balsamic vinegar is a tasty addition. Enjoy!
Nutrition
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Updated from May 28, 2016.
I love the tomato, cucumber and onion combo. I know you had celery not cucumber. I eat it by the bowlful once the tomatoes are in season. Love the 10 tomato recipes you sent. This one is the first. Cannot wait to try them. Have a great week.
Hi Sue, thanks so much, I hope you enjoy them. Take care!
This is Not authentic Italian Bruchetta ..as Italian bruschetta has NO onions.. just came from Italy and not one restaurant we went to had onions in their recipe.. onions is a Canadian American version .. true bruschetta uses Roma tomatoes garlic fresh basil olive oil and some may use oregano..
Hi Jacqueline, if you read my post you’ll see that actually authentic bruschetta is just grilled bread, a sprinkle of salt and good quality olive oil. That’s it, the tomatoes and extras are just that, extras. My Italian friends and family add many things to top the grilled bread. You want to add onion add onions you want to add celery add celery. Take care!
Wow how rude. All cultures have twists to everything depending on the region. If there is something you don’t like then leave it out.
But red onion makes it all the more delicious!
I can eat this all day! So easy to make and so full of flavor. Thanks again for sharing such a great and pantry free recipe.
Hi Sherry, thanks so much and yes I could eat it all day too! Take care and have a great weekend!
My wife’s go to lunch. I also like crab fennel and rocket. That will be my lunch tomorrow!
Hi Peter, thanks so much, glad you both enjoy it. Take care and have a great week!
This was one of the BEST bruschetta recipes I have tried. The chef gave me some great pointers, too!! I made it as an appetizer for 15 people (there were other tasty dishes also) and the bruschetta was the first thing polished off! So clean, fresh – and I followed her directions for toasting…. Amazing. I am definitely keeping this recipe!!
Hi Joanne, thanks so much, so glad everyone enjoyed it. Have a great week.
Awesome … I am from Markham. Toronto and Markham as we once knew them are gone forever. Such a shame.
Blessings Molly
My apology .. the delete button got over exuberant somehow… technology sometimes sucks
Signature — Should have read Ms. Molloy
Now it should read. MERRY CHRISTMAS from Markham… Joyce.
Hi Joyce, yeah haha happens to me too. Thanks so much and Merry Christmas to you also.
This looks really delicious, I’ll sure try it this weekend! Thanks for sharing.
Hi Diana, thanks so much, let me know how it goes.