# Bruschetta

Grilled bread rubbed with garlic and topped with ripe tomatoes, fresh basil, and good olive oil. Simple, fast, and entirely dependent on ingredient quality.

_Snack · Italian_

Prep: 15 min · Cook: 6 min · Total: 21 min · Yields: 4 servings

## Ingredients

- 4 large ripe tomatoes (about 1.5 lb, Roma or vine)
- 2 cloves garlic (1 halved for rubbing, 1 minced)
- ¼ cup fresh basil leaves (loosely packed, torn)
- 3 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil (plus more for drizzling)
- ¾ tsp kosher salt
- ¼ tsp black pepper (freshly ground)
- 1 tsp red wine vinegar (optional, brightens the topping)
- 8 slices crusty bread (ciabatta or sourdough, cut 3/4-inch thick)

## Instructions

1. Core and dice the 4 large ripe tomatoes into roughly 1/2-inch pieces. Transfer to a colander set over a bowl and toss with 0.5 tsp of the kosher salt. Let drain for 10 minutes — this pulls out excess water so the topping doesn't sog the bread.
2. Mince 1 of the garlic cloves. In a medium bowl, combine the drained tomatoes, minced garlic, 0.25 cup torn fresh basil leaves, 2 tbsp of the extra-virgin olive oil, the remaining 0.25 tsp kosher salt, 0.25 tsp black pepper, and 1 tsp red wine vinegar if using. Stir and taste; adjust salt as needed. Set aside.
3. Heat a grill pan or outdoor grill over high heat until very hot, about 2 minutes. Brush both sides of the 8 slices crusty bread lightly with the remaining 1 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil.
4. Grill the bread slices for 2–3 minutes per side until deep golden with visible char marks. Work in batches if needed.
5. Immediately rub one side of each hot toast firmly with the cut face of the halved garlic clove — the rough, hot surface acts as a grater and the garlic melts right in.
6. Spoon the tomato mixture generously onto the garlic-rubbed side of each slice. Finish with a light drizzle of extra-virgin olive oil and serve at once.

## Tip

> Salt the tomatoes and let them drain before mixing — skipping this step is the single biggest reason bruschetta turns soggy within minutes of plating.

Tags: vegetarian, vegan, 30-minute, summer, appetizer

---
Canonical: https://just-recipes.io/recipes/bruschetta