Tomato Basil Bruschetta Recipe

This time of the year, when the garden is producing a ton of tomatoes and the basil has fully grown, we love to make Tomato Basil Bruschetta.

There is just something refreshing about taking a bite of a toasted baguette topped with tomato and basil. Not to mention that it is tossed in a delicious balsamic vinegar, olive oil, and garlic dressing.

But the best part of all, it is extremely easy to make!

But before we explain how to make the recipe, let’s get a few things cleared up about Bruschetta itself.

Bruschetta

My husband is of Italian heritage. And that is where Bruschetta originated.

So every time that I say pronounce Bruschetta like Broo-shet-ta he reminds me that I am saying it the American way.

The Correct Pronunciation

Therefore, I have learned over the years, that the actual pronunciation is Broo-skeh-tu.

So just replace the ‘ch’ with a ‘k’ and you will be much closer at pronouncing it correctly.

But that’s okay, I used to drive him crazy when I used to say I-talian too!

Original Bruschetta

Since the fascination of Bruschetta arrived in America, there have been different takes and twists on this popular recipe.

You see everything from the basic Tomato Basil Bruschetta to slices of toasted baguettes being topped with smoked salmon, arugula and capers. And they are all considered Bruschetta.

However, the original version of Italian Bruschetta is much more basic.

It is served as small slices of Italian bread that have been toasted. Add a little olive oil and rub a clove of garlic off the top and that is it!

No need for fancy toppings. Although in some parts of Italy chopped tomatoes would be served on top if, and only if, they were in season.

But most often it was served more as a garlic bread than anything else.

But fast forward to today. American chefs are always looking for a way to put a new twist on classic dishes.

And Tomato Basic Bruschetta was born!

To Peel or Not To Peel The Tomatoes

Our recipe instructs you to peel the tomatoes before adding them to the remaining ingredients.

The reason is two-fold.

First, peeling the tomatoes allows the flavors of the dressing to penetrate right into the meat of the tomato.

Otherwise, the slippery skin would shed off the majority of the dressing.

But the tomatoes are also peeled because it is the traditional way to serve them in Italy.

You see, in Italian cooking, tomatoes are peeled before they are added to most recipes.

Although, this tradition has faded away somewhat as time has gone by, it was a practice that was taught as standard practice by my husband’s grandmother.

However, the choice is really up to you whether you want to take the extra time to peel the tomatoes or not.

But it really does improve the flavor of the Tomato Basil Bruschetta.

The Easiest Way To Peel Tomatoes

If you choose to peel the tomatoes, the process is quite easy.

Simply bring a large stockpot of water to a boil. Then drop your whole tomatoes in the water and wait one minute.

Next, use a slotted spoon to remove the tomatoes and place them immediately into an ice water bath.

And as soon as they are cool enough to handle, just make a small slice under the skin, and it will peel completely off!

This is much easier than try to peel a tomato with a vegetable peeler or knife.

How To Make Tomato Basil Mixture

All that is left to do is to make the tomato basil mixture to place on top of the baguettes.

First, squeeze out any extra juice and seeds from the tomatoes and discard.

Then dice up the tomatoes into small pieces and set aside.

Next, cut the basil into small strips. In order to julienne basil, it is best to stack the basil leaves on top of each other and roll them lengthwise.

Then take your knife and cut across the short end of the roll. Now you will have little strips of basil, perfect for your appetizer.

Mix the dressing ingredients together and carefully add the tomatoes and basil until well coated.

Toast Baguettes

Let the Tomato Basil mixture marinate while you toast your bread slices.

You can either toast them in the oven or in the Air Fryer.

I prefer to use our Ninja Foodi to toast our baguettes. It takes a fraction of the time that it takes just to preheat our oven.

Plus, it’s a bonus if I don’t have to heat up the kitchen on a hot summer day.

But the choice is up to you!

Other Fresh Tomato Recipes To Try:

• Cucumber, Tomato and Onion Salad
• Instant Pot Pasta Sauce
• Cold Veggie Pizza
• 7 Layer Mexican Dip

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