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The Best Bruschetta

Bruschetta is one of those classic summer eats everyone always loves. Juicy cherry tomatoes tossed with toasted garlic, balsamic vinegar, fresh basil, and spooned over crusty grilled bread; it's unbelievably delicious and easy!
5 from 1 vote
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Total Time 20 minutes
Course Appetizer, Snacks
Cuisine American, Italian
Servings 10 servings
Calories 319 kcal

Ingredients
  

  • 2 pints cherry tomatoes, halved or cut in quarters
  • 2-3 garlic cloves minced
  • 2 tbsp olive oil
  • 1/4 cup fresh basil, chopped
  • 2 tbsp good balsamic vinegar
  • 1 baguette, sliced 1/4-1/2 inch thick
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1/4 tsp ground black pepper

Instructions
 

  • Start by heating up a small skillet to medium heat and add 1 tablespoon of olive oil. Add garlic and stir constantly until the garlic is lightly golden. If the garlic gets too dark in color it can taste bitter so keep an eye on it. Add the toasted garlic to a medium size bowl and let cool for just a couple minutes.
  • Add tomatoes, basil, balsamic vinegar, salt and pepper to the bowl with the garlic. Give it a good toss and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes, or up to 2 hours before serving.
  • While tomatoes marinate, brush one side of the bread with olive oil. Heat a grill pan or outdoor gas grill and toast on both sides until crisp. You want there to be some charred bits on the bread. That's what makes it so yummy.

Serving bruschetta

  • Lay out toasted slices of bread on a serving plate and set the bowl of marinated tomatoes on the side with a spoon. Let everyone serve themselves!

Notes

Toasting bread- If you don't have a grill or grill pan, here are additional options for toasting the bread.
  1. Oven method- Lay out slices of bread in a single layer on a large sheet pan, brush evenly with olive oil or melted butter and place in a 350℉ oven for 12-15 minutes, or until golden and crispy. 
  2. Skillet method- Heat a skillet to medium high heat and brush sliced bread with olive oil or butter. Toast bread on both sides until golden crispy. Note: This can be done in the same pan you cook the garlic in to cut down on dirty dishes. 
Garlic lovers- When the bread is finished cooking and is still warm, cut a garlic clove in half and rub the top of the bread with the raw garlic. The oils from the garlic will seep into the warmed bread for extra garlic deliciousness. 
Storing leftover grilled bread- Once cooled, bread can be stored in a Ziploc bag at room temperature for up to 2 days.
Storing leftover tomato topping- Store in a sealed container in refrigerator up to 1 day. Anytime after that and the tomatoes loose their freshness. You could also use the leftover tomatoes in your spaghetti sauce for extra flavor. 
Nutritional facts include 3 slices with tomato topping.
Nutritional information is provided as a courtesy only and should be understood as an estimate rather than a guarantee. The Menu Maid makes no guarantees to the accuracy of this information.
Keyword Balsamic vinegar, Basil, Crusty bread, Garlic, Olive oil, tomatoes