Brushetta al Pomodoro

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Brushetta al Pomodoro

Bruschetta al Pomodoro is a classic antipasto from Italy that consists of grilled bread, and is topped with ripe tomatoes, fresh basil, garlic, and olive oil. Pronounced ‘broo-SKEH-ta’, this classic Italian appetizer is a perfect way to capture the flavours of summer.

Bruschetta al Pomodoro is remarkably simple, comprised of a toasted (or grilled) slice of bread – preferably a rustic, hardy kind such as Tuscan or Pugliese – rubbed with fresh garlic while still warm, then drizzled with olive oil and topped with marinated tomatoes.

I love the simplicity of this recipe. Simple food made with lots of love and quality ingredients. Bruschetta seems easy to make, and it is indeed not the most difficult meal on earth, but the freshness of the ingredients and right proportions make a huge difference.

Ingredients

2-3 ripe tomatoes
3-4 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
4-5 slices of rustic Italian loaf
1 clove garlic
5-6 fresh basil leaves
Maldon Sea Salt to taste

Directions

Step-1

Chop the tomatoes into even sized pieces. With your hands (do not use a knife), rip the basil leaves into small pieces. Gently stir together the tomatoes and basil.

Step-2

Drizzle about 2 tablespoons olive oil and then sprinkle the salt on top. Do not stir in the olive oil or salt. Set aside, uncovered, at room temperature for 45 minutes to an hour to marinate (or as long as you have!).

Step-3

Grill or toast the bread slices until golden on both sides.
Slice a raw garlic clove in half. Rub each slice of bread while it is still hot with the exposed inside of the clove, squeezing the garlic between your fingers to release its juices into the bread.
Next drizzle the bread liberally with the olive oil. The slices should be nicely soaked.

Step-4

Top each slice with the marinated tomatoes.
Serve immediately while the bread is still slightly warm.

Tips & Variations

Use the best quality ripe tomatoes that you can for making bruschetta. I love using cherry tomatoes and sometimes use mixed colourful cherry tomatoes too for the vibrant colour and flavour.
Prepare the tomato mixture at least an hour in advance to allow the flavours to develop and the juice to drain to the bottom of the bowl.
Traditionally tomatoes are not deseeded however if you are using plum tomatoes or salad tomatoes, you can dessed them before chopping.
I prefer using Maldon sea salt while making bruschetta, any sea salt will work well with the recipe.
Tear the basil into smaller pieces with your hands instead of cutting with a knife. This will keep the basil fresher and looking bright/vibrant for much longer. The tears do not need to be perfect, just quickly tear off smallish pieces of basil and add to a bowl.
I would recommend buying the best quality bread with a good crust and a firm but open crumb. Usually, breads sold as ‘rustic’ or ‘peasant’ style works best.
One thing that you should not add is too much garlic. The garlic is simply rubbed gently over the bread slices while it is still hot. The juice of the garlic infuses the bread with a subtle garlic flavour.
Toast or grill the bread until crisp but not browned.