Description
Julia Child’s bruschetta brings Mediterranean charm to your table with fresh tomatoes, basil, and crusty bread. Classic Italian flavors dance together, creating a simple yet elegant appetizer that promises to delight your senses.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 2 cups tomatoes, diced (use a mixture of heirloom tomatoes, cherry tomatoes, and “on the vine” tomatoes)
- ½ baguette, sliced into ¼ inch pieces
Herbs and Cheese:
- 1 tablespoon basil, roughly chopped
- 1 tablespoon Parmesan, shaved and roughly chopped
- 1 garlic clove
Seasonings and Oils:
- ¼ cup extra virgin olive oil
- ¼ teaspoon balsamic vinegar
- Pinch of salt
- Fresh ground black pepper to taste
Instructions
- Finely chop fresh basil leaves and grate authentic Parmesan cheese, combining them with ripe, diced tomatoes in a spacious mixing vessel.
- Drizzle 1 teaspoon (5 milliliters) of extra virgin olive oil and 1 tablespoon (15 milliliters) of aged balsamic vinegar into the tomato mixture, seasoning with a delicate pinch of kosher salt and freshly cracked black pepper.
- Allow the tomato and herb medley to marinate at room temperature for 10 minutes, enabling the flavors to harmonize and intensify.
- Slice a crusty baguette diagonally into thin, uniform pieces, roughly 1/2 inch (1.3 centimeters) thick.
- Peel a garlic clove and slice it in half, preparing to infuse the bread with aromatic essence.
- Brush each baguette slice generously with olive oil on both sides, ensuring complete coverage.
- Heat a large cast-iron skillet or griddle over medium heat, adding an additional tablespoon (15 milliliters) of olive oil.
- Carefully place the oil-coated bread slices into the hot skillet, toasting for 3 to 4 minutes per side until achieving a golden-brown, crispy texture.
- Lightly sprinkle toasted crostini with additional sea salt, then generously top each slice with the marinated tomato mixture.
- Finish with a final grinding of fresh black pepper and serve immediately to preserve the bruschetta’s vibrant flavors and perfect crunch.
Notes
- Experiment with heirloom, cherry, and roma tomatoes to create a vibrant and diverse bruschetta canvas.
- Let the chopped tomatoes, herbs, and olive oil mingle and develop deep, rich flavors during a short resting period.
- Golden-brown baguette slices provide a crisp, crunchy foundation that perfectly supports the juicy tomato topping.
- Gently rub fresh garlic cloves across warm toast to infuse each bite with a subtle, aromatic punch.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Appetizer, Snacks
- Method: Sautéing
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 204
- Sugar: 1 g
- Sodium: 50 mg
- Fat: 22 g
- Saturated Fat: 3 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 18 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 10 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 2 g
- Cholesterol: 2 mg