Easy Tomato Bruschetta Recipe

This Easy Tomato Bruschetta Recipe is the perfect summertime appetizer
when the tomatoes are in season, and basil is plenty!

We’ve all seen the scene in Julie and Julia where Julie and her husband are eating Tomato Salad on crispy, buttery bread and we all want to try it!

While this recipe for Easy Tomato Bruschetta isn’t the exact recipe, it’s my interpretation of it.

If you know me in real life, you know I am not a fan of fresh tomatoes.

There is something about their smell, texture, and flavor that I just do not appreciate.

((I don’t appreciate Cilantro, either… Ina Garten and I both think it tastes like dirty dishwater!))

However, this tomato bruschetta topping recipe is simply irresistible.

Fresh tomatoes are combined with spicy, fresh garlic, shallots, basil, and capers for an added brininess. 

For Town Mountain Supper Club we recently had a “Carrabba’s Night!”

One of our peeps is a former Carrabba’s chef, and he knows ALL THE SECRETS to the menu! We love having him cook for us!

I was in charge of the appetizer and thought it would be fitting to do a Bruschetta Board filled with all kinds of toppings to spread on toasted baguette slices.

Making the best tomato bruschetta is way easier than you think, and uses summer fresh ingredients.

This recipe is the only tomato bruschetta recipe you will need! It is so simple but perfectly matched. 

Yes! This grazing board even had a shrimp cocktail included!
And, it was pretty darn yummy!

What is Bruschetta?

Bruschetta actually refers to the bread.

I didn’t grill my bread — but, bruschetta in Italian is the equivalent of “roast over coals” — the usual grill marks create a “grate” for you to rub fresh garlic on each of the slices, leaving a deliciously spicy garlicky taste to pair up!

The topping is essentially a tomato salad. But, here in the Good U S of A, bruschetta is exactly the recipe I’m giving you today.

Tomato salad is what bruschetta is all about in the summertime — the tomatoes are ripe and hearty, and basil comes in overwhelmingly!

This is a great way to use up lots of tomatoes.

Need ideas for a Bruschetta Bar Grazing Board?! 

Here are the recipes you can add to your own Bruschetta Board

1. Garlic Herb Bruschetta
2. Feta & Boursin Cheese Spread – it’s really not a recipe. Just combine a half cup of feta with a round of Boursin herb cheese! Yum!
3. Sun-Dried Tomato Goat Cheese Spread or I like to call it Italian Pimento Cheese
4. Italian Cheese Spread
5. This Baked Tomato and Goat Cheese recipe is phenomenal!

All these go great with toasted slices of a baguette!

How do you make Simple Bruschetta with Tomatoes and Basil?

First, I toasted of slices of a french baguette with just butter, then rubbed a fresh garlic clove over each one after it finished toasting under the broiler.

Second, in the next round of toast, I did a little extra… Italian Herbs, White Wine, and Fresh Garlic.

Garlic Herb Bruschetta can hold up to any spread you imagine.

And they make a killer topping for soup!

What is the best bread for Bruschetta?

I prefer using a french baguette.
It’s a long and skinny one.

If you wanted to create a full meal, pair this appetizer recipe with this Cold Watermelon Gazpacho recipe! 

What a perfect, refreshing summertime pairing! You could even serve out of a mason jar or shot glasses for a great porch party!

Tools You’ll Need for Tomato Bruschetta Recipe:
Cutting Board
Sharp Knife
Microplane
Citrus Reamer
Mixing Bowl

Next, slice small (or large!) tomatoes into bite-size pieces. 

How do you cut tomatoes for bruschetta?

Using a paring knife, cut in half lengthwise. If they’re the long Marzano tomatoes, I’ll cut in half lengthwise and across. 

Then, grate some fresh cloves of garlic over the top of the tomatoes with a Microplane, add in minced shallots, and some basil ribbons.

Now, gently stir in red wine vinegar, capers + a plop of the caper brine, fresh torn basil, salt & pepper.

Gently toss all of this together, and let it sit for an hour in the fridge. 

Hopefully, in the summer, you can find fresh basil.

If you’re making this and you don’t have any fresh basil on hand, try using any fresh herbs. Thyme and oregano would be lovely!

Dried works in a pinch, as well.

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Missed the other recipes on this Grazing Board?? 

• Italian Pimento Cheese
• Italian Cheese Spread
• Garlic Herb Bruschetta
• Tomato Bruschetta 
• Roasted Shrimp Cocktail