Bruschetta is a timeless Italian appetizer so like most Italian food, it's simple to make and tastes downright delicious. Never made bruschetta before but would like to learn? We're here to help you make the best bruschetta ever!

How To Make An Easy Bruschetta

Bruschetta is one of our favorite things to make (and eat) at family gatherings. Served usually as an appetizer, the base consists of simple ingredients like good bread, olive oil, garlic and salt. The topping can be a little more creative based on your culinary preferences but the classic chopped tomatoes dressed in olive oil and balsamic (see our recipe below) is our go-to. 

Before we get started though, lets get one thing straight... It's pronounced "Bruˈsketta", not “broo-shetta”. In Italian, the letter combination of CH is pronounced as a hard K. Click here to hear it pronounced correctly, and impress your waiter the next time you order it.

What type of bread do you use?

We suggest a classic French baguette or a rustic medium-sized Italian loaf, like Ciabatta. Slice your loaf into 1/4" - 1/2" thick slices.

How do you toast the bread?

It's easy! You can do one of two things: bake it in the oven or toast it in the toaster. If you're using the oven, preheat it to 375 degrees F. We love lightly brushing both sides of the bread with olive oil before placing in the baking sheet. Bake bread 5-7 minutes on one side. Flip the slices over and bake for 5-7 more minutes or until desired browning occurs. If you're using a toaster, you can brush both sides of the slice with olive oil and simply toast it. 

The bread prep can be done ahead of time. After toasting it, it can keep up to 5 days when stored in an air-tight container at room temperature. 

Here's a simple, classic way to get started with bruschetta... think of it like an "introductory bruschetta". It's a spin on the classic version - we added some goat cheese because, frankly, who doesn't like goat cheese? (If you don't, you can absolutely exclude it.)

Fresh Tomato Bruschetta with Goat Cheese
Yield: 6-8 servings
Time: 20 minutes

WHAT YOU'LL NEED

• 7 Roma tomatoes, diced
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 tablespoon Queen Creek Olive Mill Balsamic Vinegar (We recommend Pomegranate White Balsamic Vinegar)
• 2 tablespoons Queen Creek Olive Mill Olive Oil (We recommend Basil Olive Oil)
• 1/4 cup fresh basil, chiffonade
• Kosher salt and cracked black pepper to taste
• Loaf of crusty bread, medium size
• Goat cheese, to taste

THE METHOD

Dice tomatoes and mince garlic. In large bowl, mix tomatoes, garlic, Pomegranate Balsamic, Basil Olive Oil, basil, salt and pepper together. Cut bread into 1/2” slices and toast. Spread goat cheese on each piece of toast. Spoon tomato mixture on top of cheese, top off with more basil if desired and enjoy!