Tomato Bruschetta with Garlic and Basil is a quick and easy appetizer that is oh-so-refreshing and jam-packed with garlicky goodness!
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I have been making this tomato bruschetta for years, and it has always been a crowd favorite.
Holidays, parties or even for a quick appetizer before dinner at home – there is NEVER any left, and there are never any regrets.
Tomato bruschetta is extremely refreshing and simple to make.
If you're anything like me – lover of fresh vegetables – you probably have the majority of the ingredients in your kitchen already, with the exception of maybe the baguette. You also probably have the tools needed to make this ultra-simple recipe.
Looking for more appetizers? Check these out:
Easy Bruschetta
If you're looking for an ultra-simple recipe that you can make in a rush, this appetizer is for you. I mean it, you can be a complete newbie in the kitchen and absolutely NAIL this recipe.
For such a basic dish, this appetizer is jam-packed with flavor, largely due to the garlic. I am never conservative when I use garlic. Like, at all. If a recipe calls for two cloves, you better believe I am using at least five!
I chop up then sauté the garlic until fragrant and golden before mixing it with the rest of the ingredients. This brings out so much more flavor than you'd get if you just stirred in raw garlic.
What is Bruschetta?
Believe it or not, bruschetta is not actually an appetizer that by default comes topped with a tomato mixture. Rather, it's an Italian bread that is toasted, rubbed with garlic and then drizzled in olive oil. It can be topped with a tomato concoction such as this, but it's originally intended to be simple.
I love the sound of that, but I don't see myself straying from this version! Most often, bruschetta is served with some sort of tomato topping and served as a light course before a large meal. Despite the bread, it's a healthy snack that won't leave you feeling stuffed.
How to Make Bruschetta
If you are looking for a simple bruschetta recipe, you've come to the right place.
The steps are simple:
Prepare your topping: Saute your garlic, dice your veggies, season them, mix 'em all up and chill!
Toast the baguette: Slice your baguette, brush the tops with oil and season them with salt and pepper. Bake until golden brown.
Serve 'em up: Top those golden slices with your tomato mixture and serve immediately.
You really can't go wrong.
Brushing the baguette slices with seasoned olive oil makes a huge difference. Not only does it add a lot to the taste but it also creates a nice chewy crunch that helps hold the whole bite together. If you bake the slices without any type of preparation, they'll crunch in the crumbly type of way that nobody likes.
My Favorite Tools For This Recipe
The most helpful tool to achieve this is a small silicone basting brush. I've been using mine for three years with no signs of it needing to be replaced, which is awesome because I use it for a lot of things – brushing on sauce for grilling (and we grill a lot!), brushing butter or olive oil on toasted breads and pitas, etc.
Dicing up tomatoes can be a bit cumbersome if you don’t have a very sharp knife. Because of this I regularly sharpen my knife using a PriorityChef Knife Sharpener.
There are many other knife sharpeners out there, some are electric-powered and others are hand-powered like the one above. I have not tried one of those electric ones but this hand-powered knife sharpener is more than enough for my daily needs without having to break the bank.
This recipe requires basil, of course! We grow ours at home year-round and have an enormous supply which can be hard to use up quickly.
We recently received a glass herb keeper as a wedding gift which has made it so much easier to preserve the herbs we pick much longer than they would keep in the refrigerator otherwise! It's definitely a kitchen necessity, whether you grow your own or get yours from the grocery store! Check it out here.
Can You Freeze Bruschetta?
If you really want to… but I wouldn't recommend it.
Bruschetta is best served fresh, and it will no longer be fresh when taken from the freezer.
Whether you are in a pinch and looking for an easy yet impressive appetizer, or you are like me and love to pre-game dinner, this tomato bruschetta with garlic and basil is always a winner!
FOR MORE APPETIZER RECIPES, CHECK OUT:
- Spring Rolls with Sweet & Spicy Dipping Sauce
- Easy Party Apps You Can Make in 30 Minutes or Less
- Goat Cheese Crostini with Caramelized Onions and Candied Walnuts
- Chicken Satay with Spicy Peanut Dipping Sauce
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| Servings | |
- 1 French baguette cut into 1/4-inch slices
- 3 tbsp olive oil
- 4 cloves garlic minced
- 3 Vine Tomatoes diced
- 1/2 small White Onion chopped
- 2-3 tbsp fresh basil chopped
- Juice from 1/4 Lemon
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Shredded Parmesan optional
Ingredients
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- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
- Saute minced garlic in 1 tablespoon olive oil until fragrant and golden. Set aside.
- Chop tomatoes, onion and fresh basil and combine in a mixing bowl. Add sauteed garlic WITH the excess olive oil from the pan.
- Squeeze 1/4 lemon juice over the vegetable mixture and season with salt and pepper to taste.
- Mix well and chill in the refrigerator.
- In a small bowl, season the other 2 tablespoons of olive oil with salt and pepper.
- Slice the baguette into 1/4-1/2-inch slices and place them on a baking sheet. Use a silicone basting brush to apply seasoned olive oil. Bake for 8 minutes or until edges are lightly browned.
- Top each baguette slice with a spoonful of tomato bruschetta and a small sprinkle of shredded parmesan (optional).
You had me at garlic! I am a huge garlic fan. Will put it on absolutely anything! Seriously. Anything.
This is one of my absolute favorites! These look delicious!
OMG you made me sooo hungry now! I love bruschetta, now I know what I am having for lunch tomorrow :) great recipe!
YUM! I love this recipe and these photos! Now I’m craving :)
Your bruschetta looks amazing! Tomato basil bruschetta is a quick and healthy snack. We make it a lot at our house.
Looks great! And it’s nice & simple. Adding this to the list of recipes to try.
Bruschetta really is such a easy dish, still it’s so yummy!!!
This one of my favorite mini meals or go to appetizers. Love all of these ingredients!
I love bruschetta! It’s such a simple appetizer, and I love how versatile it is. I put garlic in everything, and love that you do it in this bruschetta as well. Definitely pinning this one
It has been a while since I had bruschetta. I am saving this for late :D I love it so much and tastes so good with basil and garlic :D I have to try this out :)
What a brilliant and easy idea, to entertain guests or even as a little healthy snack. Love your recipes, keep up the great work x
This looks super yummy, and such a great healthy snack!
Sophie | MapleTreeBlog
Yum! This looks delicious and so refreshing!
Oh I love bruschetta so much and this version looks amazing!! Can’t wait to try it!
I stumbled across a little cafe this weekend and they had an entire section of their menu dedicated to bruschetta and it was heavenly – I had mine with serrano ham but I love the classic tomato and basil combination. These teeny tiny ones look like perfect appetizers – or maybe just a tv dinner ha!
http://victoriaspongepeasepudding.com/
I love fresh tomatoes with onion and they look soo tasty with your other ingredients. Perfect snack!
This is a great party idea, Katie! Healthy and easy to make, everyone will love them!
This recipe looks amazing i can’t wait to try it out!
Emi | Sakura Cosme
Thanks! Hope you like it!
I make this too but I spread the baguette slices with cream cheese, then place under the broiler and then spoon the bruschetta on. The flavor combo is to die for
That sounds INCREDIBLE! Going to try this next time we serve bruschetta!
Hello-I would like to make this ahead of time. How long can the mix stay in the refrigerator before it is served?
You could make it a day in advance but it just won’t be the same as same-day. I would recommend morning off to allow the flavors to meld but not get too soggy!