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–+ servings

Healthy Italian Tomato Bruschetta

Fresh tomato bruschetta with basil, garlic, olive oil, and balsamic on perfectly toasted baguette slices. A light, crowd-pleasing Italian appetizer that’s ready in about 15 minutes.
Amanda
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 14 minutes
Resting 3 minutes
Total Time 27 minutes
Serving Size 12 piece

Equipment

  • Oven
  • Baking sheet
  • Serrated knife
  • cutting board
  • Mixing bowl
  • spoon
  • Pastry brush (optional)

Ingredients

  • 2 cups fresh tomatoes diced (cherry or ripe tomatoes)
  • 1/4 cup fresh basil chopped
  • 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil plus more for brushing bread if needed
  • 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
  • 2 cloves garlic minced (plus 1 clove to rub toast, optional)
  • 1/4 cup red onion finely diced
  • salt to taste
  • black pepper to taste
  • 1 French baguette sliced into 1/2-inch pieces (about 12 slices)
  • 1/2 cup mozzarella optional, diced or shredded

Instructions

  • Preheat the oven to 400°F (200°C). Arrange the baguette slices in a single layer on a baking sheet.
  • Lightly brush both sides of the bread with olive oil (or drizzle and spread with your fingers). Bake 5–7 minutes, flip, then bake 5–7 minutes more until golden and crisp.
  • While the bread toasts, make the topping: in a bowl, combine diced tomatoes, minced garlic, basil, red onion, balsamic vinegar, and olive oil. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
  • Let the tomato mixture rest for about 3 minutes so the flavors meld. (If using mozzarella, fold it in now or add it on top when serving.)
  • Optional: when the toast comes out of the oven, rub the top of each slice with a cut garlic clove for extra flavor.
  • Spoon the tomato mixture onto the warm toasted bread. Serve immediately while the bread is crisp.

Notes

Use the ripest, most flavorful tomatoes you can find—summer tomatoes make the biggest difference. To avoid soggy bruschetta, keep the topping and toast separate until serving. Leftover tomato topping keeps refrigerated for up to 2 days; stir before using (it may release liquid). For a sweeter balance, add a tiny pinch of sugar if tomatoes are bland. Great with a drizzle of balsamic glaze or reduction.

Nutrition

Calories: 95kcal | Protein: 3g | Saturated Fat: 0.7g | Cholesterol: 3mg | Sodium: 180mg