Basic and Tomato Bruschetta
Contributed by: News Canada
Bruschetta in its original and most basic form is
nothing more than garlic bread made with
great olive oil. In Tuscany, it came into being as a means for workers to celebrate the first
pressing of the olive oil after harvest. There was always a fire going near the press to provide
warmth and peasants would grill chewy slabs of bread over it, and then rub the bread with garlic
and douse it in the just-pressed oil. What could be more delicious? Well, perhaps the popular
summer version topped with juicy, vine-ripened tomatoes and aromatic slivers of bright green
basil. As irresistible as Tomato Bruschetta may be during the sultry summer months, be sure to try
the Basic Bruschetta - often called Fettunta - as it is the essence of simple yet divine Tuscan
cooking.
Ingredients:
- 4 slabs crusty and dense Italian bread, cut 3/4 to 1 inch thick
- 2 large cloves garlic, peeled and cut in half
- Best quality extra virgin olive oil, preferably from Tuscany
- Sea salt to taste
- Tomato Topping:
- 3 cups seeded and diced vine-ripened tomatoes
- 1/4 cup best quality extra virgin olive oil, preferably from Tuscany
- 1 tablespoon minced garlic
- 5 tablespoons slivered fresh basil leaves
- Sea salt and freshly ground pepper to taste
Directions:
Charcoal: Direct - Gas: Direct/Low Heat
To Make Bruschetta: grill bread, turning once, until golden on both sides, about 1-1/2 to
2 minutes per side. Rub one side of each piece of bread with a half clove of garlic; rub hard for
good garlicky flavor. Place each piece of bread on a serving plate and drizzle generously with
olive oil to suit your taste. Season with salt and enjoy.
For Tomato Bruschetta: Make the topping by combining tomatoes, olive oil, garlic,
basil, salt and pepper. Let mixture marinate at room temperature for 45 minutes. Grill the bread in
the same manner as the basic bruschetta and top hot-off-the-grill with the tomato mixture. Let
stand a few minutes to let the juices absorb into the grilled bread.
Serving Size: Makes 4 appetizer servings
Share On Twitter
