Cheese & tomato bruschetta is one of those dishes that everyone agrees on. In modern cuisine, bruschetta represents not only a phenomenal appetizer, but also adds beauty and liveliness to the table.
Italian cuisine is not only about pizza and spaghetti. Although these remarkable dishes have an exquisite role in the Italian cooking portfolio, I bet you never knew the value of bruschetta, when made correctly. No excuses for a bruschetta dish: neither persons following a diet nor vegetarians can’t avoid embracing the exquisite taste of a crunchy, yet delicate bruschetta.Â
Without further ado, just imagine the combination of a crunchy bruschetta with melted cheese, all encompassed in a garlic aroma. To bring the combination to perfection, just imagine the red accents of the fresh tomatoes, altogether bringing the purest form of delicacy to your plate. No, you can’t imagine it. You have to taste it.
Which bread to choose for bruschetta
Making bruschetta is very easy, just make the correct choice with bread and the ingredients. The bread for bruschetta can be wholemeal, durum or soft wheat, cereals, or rye. Originally, Italians prefer ciabatta bread. You can as well use the French baguette, the idea is for the bread to have a crusty top and a soft interior.
Avoid preparing bruschetta with sandwiched bread, packaged bread, or Arabic bread simply because you will not have that final result of crunchiness and bread infused with delicious aromas and tastes. Always go for rustic bread for the best result. All you have to do is unleash your imagination and top the crusty bread with your favorite toppings.
How to season bruschetta
Once you have chosen the bread for the bruschetta, just choose the toppings. And there are no limits here. For this bruschetta recipe, I went for garlic, tomatoes, mozzarella, onion, and olive oil. I promise this is a mind-blowing combo.
However, you can go for any ingredients you like most. It can be meat such as prosciutto or ham. You can combine that with some roasted aubergines or sliced zucchini. Moreover, you can add any other cheese such as parmesan or soft cheese like dor blue or gorgonzola. Just like I said before, let yourself be guided by your imagination.
Sweet or savory, here are some ideas to season your bruschetta:
- Gruyere or Brie cheese, slices of baked yellow pepper, and sliced black olives.
- Ham and figs.
- Greek yogurt, cucumber slices, and salmon roe.
- Garlic rubbed on bread, mashed avocado, anchovies, and black pepper.
- Boiled pinto beans, sage, black pepper, and extra virgin olive oil.
- Fresh tomato, sliced raw lard, and chives.
- Fresh goat cheese, grilled aubergines, olive oil, minced garlic, and mint.
- Mascarpone and cherries.
- Ricotta and chestnut honey.
- Banana puree and melted dark chocolate.
How to prepare the bread for bruschetta
Slice the bruschetta using a sharp knife. To make bruschetta bread warm and crunchy, just toast it in the oven. Always preheat the oven for about 5 minutes then let the bread slices get the beautiful golden aspect. You will get the perfect browning in about 10-12 minutes when cooked at 400F. Don’t overcook the bread in order to avoid drying it.
When done, remove the slices from the stove and rub each of them with fresh garlic. Set aside and proceed to prepare the toppings.
How to prepare the topping for bruschetta
First of all, wash the ingredients thoroughly. Then, use a cutting board and a knife to slice the cherry tomatoes (or any other kind of tomatoes) in halves. Further on, use a tea spoon to remove the seeds and the juice. Then thinly cut the tomatoes in cubes. Transfer them to a bowl and thinly cube the red onion. Finally, season with salt and olive oil and mix.
For the mozzarella, just slice it and prepare it to beautifully arrange it on top of the garlic bread.
How to prepare the tomato & cheese bruschetta
As soon as you have everything prepared, it is time to just assemble the bruschetta and indulge them. Arrange the flavored tomato salad on one half of the bread and leave the other half to the cheese. Send them to the preheated oven for another 5 minutes or until the mozzarella softens.
How to serve the tomato & cheese bruschetta
Top the baked bruschetta with some balsamic sauce and serve it with some green leaves such as arugula or basil. The perfect pair to fresh and crunchy tomato and cheese bruschetta is a chilled glass of white wine such as Sauvignon or Pinot Griggio. It is the perfect appetizer or meal for a summer evening and for the times you wish to indulge yourself with something delicious and healthy.
Cheese & Tomato Bruschetta Recipe
Ingredients
- 4 slices ciabatta
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes seedless and cubed
- 1 cup mozzarella sliced
- 1/4 cup red onion minced
- 2 cloves garlic
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp thyme optional
- 1 tbsp balsamic cream
- 1 handful basil leaves
Instructions
- Slice the ciabatta
- Preheat the oven to 400F
- Roast the slices of bread for 10-12 minutes or until golden brown
- Peel the garlic and wash the tomatoes
- Half the tomatoes and extract the seeds using a spoon
- Slice then cube the tomatoes and the onion
- Mix tomatoes and onion in a bowl and season with salt and olive oil
- Slice the mozzarella
- Remove the bread slices from the oven
- Rub with garlic each slice and top with tomato salad and mozzarella
- Send to the oven for additional 5 minutes
- Remove from the oven and top with balsamic cream
- Accompany with basil and serve with pleasure
