Italian · Free recipe
Bruschetta al Pomodoro
Crisp toasted bread rubbed with garlic and piled with sweet, juicy tomatoes and fresh basil. A bright, no-cook antipasto that tastes like summer in Italy.
Step 1
Set an oven rack in the top third of the oven and turn on the broiler to high. Let it heat for 5 minutes so it is fully hot.
Step 2
While the oven heats, rinse the tomatoes and pat them dry. Cut each one in half, then use a small spoon to scoop out the watery seeds and discard them so your topping does not get soggy.
Step 3
Chop the seeded tomatoes into small pieces about the size of a pea and put them in a medium bowl.
Step 4
Stack the basil leaves, roll them into a tight cigar shape, and slice thinly. Add them to the bowl with the tomatoes.
Step 5
To the bowl add 2 tablespoons olive oil, the red wine vinegar, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and 1/4 teaspoon black pepper. Stir gently and set aside so the flavors mingle while you toast the bread.
Step 6
Slice the bread on a slight angle into pieces about 1/2 inch thick. Arrange them in a single layer on a baking sheet and brush the tops lightly with the remaining 1 tablespoon olive oil.
Step 7
Place the baking sheet under the broiler. Watch it constantly, as broilers work fast. In 1 to 2 minutes the tops should turn golden brown with a few darker spots. Do not walk away or they will burn.
Step 8
Remove the sheet, flip each slice, and broil the second side for another 1 minute until lightly golden. The bread should be crisp on the outside but not rock hard.
Step 9
While the toasts are still warm, rub one side of each slice with the raw garlic clove. The rough toasted surface acts like sandpaper and grates the garlic into the bread for gentle flavor.
Step 10
Tip the bowl of tomatoes into a strainer for a few seconds to let excess juice drain, so the toast stays crunchy.
Step 11
Spoon the tomato mixture generously onto the garlic-rubbed side of each toast. Drizzle with a little more olive oil and serve right away.
Tips from the test kitchen
- Use the ripest tomatoes you can find; pale winter tomatoes will taste flat.
- Assemble at the last minute so the bread stays crisp.
