This is a great start to an Italian dinner and is a staple at our dinner parties. Normally this is not the only appetizer, but one of two or three as it adds a vegan/vegetarian option alongside prosciutto e melone or carpaccio.
Fresh herbs are the only way to make this dish, dried parsley or basil just won’t work. I use parsley more often than basil, but in the summer when fresh basil is abundant, it’s a refreshing change.
Grilling the bread can be done indoors using a stove top grill. If you don’t have one of those, the broiler can be used, but just keep an eye on the bread. Place a single layer of the sliced bread on a cookie sheet and put it under the broiler for no more than 2 min per side. Or, if you happen to have an outdoor fire pit, a hanging grill, and an extra pair of hands to grill for you, this can be the way to go.
If you’re looking for an Italian appetizer and this isn’t quite the one, consider these:
Bruschetta
Ingredients
- 3-4 tomatoes, medium
- 1 tbsp black olives, chopped optional
- 1 tbsp fresh basil (or parsley), chopped
- 1 tbsp capers optional
- sea salt
- pepper
- 1½ tbsp olive oil
- 1 baguette
- 1-2 cloves garlic
Instructions
- Mix first 7 ingredients in a bowl. Let sit for an hour so the juice of the tomatoes can blend with the other flavors. This can be done hours ahead of time. Go light on the salt at first as the capers may provide enough salt depending on the type being used.
- Slice the baguette in 3/4" thick rounds and grill or broil to toast on both sides. You want the bread slightly browned, but not burnt.
- As soon as the baguettes come off the heat, peel the garlic and slice in half. Rub the fresh cut garlic side on one side of each slice of bread. Place garlic side up on a serving platter.
- Just before you are ready to serve, spoon the tomato mixture on top. Serve immediately.
Notes
- You can add chopped fresh mozzarella. The pieces should be about the same size as the tomatoes. This will turn the dish vegetarian instead of vegan, but depending on your guests, it may work.
- You could also sprinkle fresh shaved parmesan on the top (shown in the picture). Again, this will make the dish vegetarian but not vegan.
- You can omit capers depending on your preference.
Thank you.
Thx.