Bruschetta is a classic Italian appetizer with bread and a garlic-marinated topping of fresh tomatoes, olive oil, and basil.

For more easy summer recipes, try panzanella, tomato cucumber salad, pan con tomate, and caponata.

Bruschetta.
Italian Bruschetta (appetizer and side dish idea)

Bruschetta (pronounced “bruˈsketta”) is one of those Italian dishes that proves how simple ingredients can come together to create something truly unforgettable.

It starts with thick slices of grilled bread, rubbed with garlic while still warm, then topped with ripe tomatoes, fresh basil, a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil, and a pinch of salt.

Like ribollita, schiacciata, and farinata, this classic recipe has its roots in the rustic culinary traditions of Tuscany.

Originally a way to use up day-old bread, bruschetta has grown far beyond its humble beginnings. Today, it’s a global icon (just look at our Bruschetta video, it counts more than 10 million views on Tiktok 🤯).

Louise and I especially love making bruschetta in the summer, when tomatoes are at their peak. It’s quick, healthy, and bursting with fresh Mediterranean flavors.

Bruschetta recipe.

Ingredients

Bruschetta ingredients.
  • Bread: Choose good bread from your local baker, a big wide loaf made from mainly wheat flour, and even better if made with sourdough.
    Get one with a compact crumb and a nice crust, and cut slices at least 0.5 inches (1.2 cm) thick. It makes the best bruschetta! Avoid packaged toast bread for bruschetta; its texture is too soft and weak.
  • Tomatoes: Vine tomatoes, Roma tomatoes, beef tomatoes, heirloom tomatoes, or cherry tomatoes. The tomatoes must be ripe but not overripe to have the best flavor. If it’s not tomato season, opt for small cherry or plum tomatoes.
  • Garlic is an essential ingredient in bruschetta. We use it to brush on the bread and for the tomato mix.
  • Extra virgin olive oil is best because it has a richer and fruitier flavor than regular olive oil. The best oils are generally cold-pressed, unfiltered, and imported from Italy, Spain, and Greece, but they can get costly.
  • Balsamic vinegar: Look for a quality stamp that says “Aceto Balsamico di Modena I.G.P.” That means the vinegar is made in a protected and specific geographical area around Modena in Italy, following traditional production methods.
  • Fresh basil leaves are essential with tomato bruschetta.

How to make Bruschetta

Rinse the tomatoes, dry them, then cut them into small dice. You can discard some of the liquid if they are very watery.

Tip: if you use cherry or plum tomatoes, cut them into 4 or 8 pieces, depending on their size. If you use larger tomatoes, remove the stem before cutting them.

cherry tomatoes in dices and knife

To a mixing bowl, add the diced tomatoes, extra virgin olive oil, balsamic vinegar, grated or crushed garlic, salt, black pepper, and chopped basil leaves.

Toss until well combined, then taste and just for salt.

Let the mix marinate at room temperature for about 10 – 15 minutes.

Bruschetta recipe.

In the meantime, slice the bread into half-inch (1.2 cm) slices.

Arrange the bread on a baking sheet or grill rack and toast it in the oven with the broiler function until golden and crunchy.

You can turn the slices around to broil them on both sides for extra crunchy bread.

While the bread is still warm, rub it with fresh garlic to infuse it with garlic flavor.

hands brushing bread with garlic

Top each slice with two tablespoons of tomato mixture.

Serve on a platter or cutting board as an appetizer, snack, aperitivo, or crunchy and healthy dinner.

Bruschetta recipe.

Serving suggestions

  • Tuscan bruschetta: This one’s the most traditional and popular type of bruschetta in Italy. It’s called “fett’unta” in Tuscany, which means “oily slice.”
  • Cheese bruschetta: Top the cheese with a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil, a pinch of salt, and a piece of sun-dried tomatoes.
Tuscan Bruschetta.

Tips

  • Ripe tomatoes: During tomato season – from May to October in the northern hemisphere – try to get your hands on organic red ripe tomatoes from sunny regions.
  • Eat raw tomatoes at room temperature for the best flavor. When you eat your tomatoes cold, they won’t taste as much.
  • Marinade: Marinating your tomato mix is essential to get a fuller flavor. The garlic will infuse your mixture, and the tomatoes will absorb some salt and vinegar, enhancing their taste. 15 minutes at room temperature is enough.
  • Drain excess water: If your tomatoes are watery (and if you buy them at the supermarket, they will be watery), remove at least half of their water, or else your bruschetta with tomatoes will be too wet.
  • Rub a fresh garlic clove (not the whole clove, just the tip) on the bread while still warm. The heat will help the garlic aroma infuse into the crumb’s cracks.

Questions

Where does bruschetta come from?

While widely popular all over Italy, the term bruschetta comes from the Italian verb bruscare (to toast) used in the central regions of Italy (Lazio, Umbria, Abruzzo).

How do you pronounce bruschetta?

It’s pronounced broo-sketta, not bruh·sheh·tuh!

Is bruschetta healthy?

Yes, if made with good quality, mostly plant-based ingredients. For example, making it with artisan sourdough bread, tomatoes, good olive oil, sea salt, and garlic is a healthy meal.

Can bruschetta be made ahead of time?

Yes. But it would be best if you assembled it last minute. Slice the bread and prep the tomato mix (or any other topping) beforehand. Then when your guests arrive, toast the bread and top it up with your tomato mix.

Can bruschetta be frozen?

No. Bruschetta with tomatoes cannot be frozen.

Should bruschetta be eaten with hands?

Yes, you can (and should) eat bruschetta with your hands. If you travel to Italy, you’ll see that everyone, including businessmen and women dressed in suits, eats bruschetta with their hands.

Should bruschetta be warm or cold?

Ideally, bruschetta should be served warm soon after making it so that the bread stays crunchy and doesn’t get to dry and hard.

Is bruschetta the bread or the topping?

Bruschetta is sliced toasted bread with a topping. Even a simple topping of rubbed garlic and olive oil upgrades your slice of toasted bread to bruschetta status.

Make Ahead & Storage

Make Ahead: you can’t assemble the bruschetta ahead of time because the bread will get soggy. However, you can slice the bread and make the tomato mixture beforehand, so when you want to serve it, you’ll only have to toast the bread and top it.

Refrigerator: you can store the toppings in the fridge for a few days in an airtight container. You can also keep the bread in a basket for a few days. 2 to 3 days old bread is excellent for juicy tomato bruschetta.

Freezer: this recipe is not suitable for freezing.

More Italian Appetizers

If you tried this Bruschetta recipe or any other recipe on our blog, please leave a 🌟 star rating and let us know how it goes in the comments. We love hearing from you!

Bruschetta.

Tomato bruschetta

5 from 10 votes
Bruschetta is a classic Italian appetizer with bread and a garlic-marinated topping of fresh tomatoes, olive oil, and basil.
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 5 minutes
Total Time: 20 minutes
Servings: 10 slices
Course: Side dish, Starter
Cuisine: Italian

Ingredients 

  • 10 slices crusty bread or baguette cut into ½ inch or 1.2 cm thick slices.
  • 1 pound tomatoes any variety as long as they are ripe
  • 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
  • 2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
  • 2 cloves garlic 1 for mixture, 1 for rubbing on bread
  • 15 leaves fresh basil
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • ¼ teaspoon pepper

Instructions 

  • Rinse 1 pound tomatoes, dry them, then cut them into small dice.
    You can discard half of their liquid if they are very watery.
    cherry tomatoes in dices and knife
  • To a mixing bowl, add the diced tomatoes, 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil, 2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar, 1 clove of grated or crushed garlic, 1 teaspoon salt, ¼ teaspoon pepper, and 15 leaves fresh basil (chopped).
    Toss until well combined, then taste and just for salt.
    Let mixture marinate at room temperature for about 10 – 15 minutes.
    tomato mixture marinating in a bowl
  • In the meantime, slice the bread into 10 to 12 half-inch thick slices (1.2 cm).
    Arrange the bread on a baking sheet or grill rack and toast it in the oven with the broiler function until golden and crunchy.
    roasted bruschetta bread
  • While the bread is still warm, rub it with fresh garlic to infuse it with garlic flavor.
    Top each slice with one or two tablespoons of tomato mixture and serve.
    Bruschetta recipe.

Video

Italian Bruschetta (appetizer and side dish idea)

Notes

Nutrition information is an estimate for 1 slice of tomato bruschetta out of 10 slices.
VARIATIONS
For more bruschetta toppings ideas, check out our “variations” chapter above.
SUBSTITUTIONS
Bread: we recommend crusty bread, artisanal bread, or a rustic baguette.
Tomatoes: I recommend vine tomatoes, Roma tomatoes, beef tomatoes, heirloom tomatoes, or plum tomatoes, or cherry tomatoes.
Balsamic vinegar: substitute 1 tablespoon of apple cider vinegar or red wine vinegar for 2 tablespoons of balsamic vinegar.
Fresh basil: substitute dried or fresh oregano.
MAKE AHEAD & STORAGE
Make Ahead: you can’t assemble the bruschetta ahead of time because the bread will get soggy. However, you can slice the bread and make the tomato mixture beforehand, so when you want to serve it, you’ll only have to toast the bread and top it.
Refrigerator: you can store the toppings in the fridge for a few days in an airtight container. You can also keep the bread in a basket for a few days. 2 to 3 days old bread is excellent for juicy tomato bruschetta.
Freezer: this recipe is not suitable for freezing.

Nutrition

Calories: 185kcal, Carbohydrates: 29g, Protein: 6g, Fat: 6g, Saturated Fat: 1g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g, Monounsaturated Fat: 3g, Trans Fat: 0g, Cholesterol: 0mg, Potassium: 175mg, Dietary Fiber: 2g, Sugar: 4g, Vitamin A: 418IU, Vitamin B6: 0.1mg, Vitamin C: 7mg, Vitamin E: 1mg, Vitamin K: 10µg, Calcium: 34mg, Folate: 69µg, Iron: 2mg, Manganese: 0.3mg, Magnesium: 22mg, Zinc: 1mg
Tried this recipe?Leave a comment below or mention @theplantbasedschool on Instagram. We love hearing from you ⭐️ 💚.

Nico and Louise in front of the Consolazione church in Todi

Hi! We are Nico & Louise

We’re here to share delicious, easy, and healthy plant-based recipes (vegetarian & vegan) 🌿✨.

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5 from 10 votes (8 ratings without comment)

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3 Comments

  1. 5 stars
    This is my new go-to when I get a pizza craving…it’s all about good, ripe tomatoes; thank you for this recipe!