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Easy Italian Bruschetta Recipe
I first developed this bruschetta recipe so I could enjoy one of my all-time favorite Italian restaurant starters at home. Bruschetta makes a great appetizer - it's not too heavy and is loaded with healthy tomatoes, onions and herbs. If you're planning an Italian-themed dinner party it's the perfect choice for a starter as it's really quick to make and will leave your guests wanting more of your delicious food!
Preparation Time 10 mins - Cooking Time 6-8 mins - Makes 16 bruchetta slices
Ingredients 6 large ripe tomatoes, chopped into small pieces 1 medium red onion, finely chopped 1 large bunch of fresh basil, finely chopped 1 clove of garlic, finely chopped 4 ciabatta rolls Extra virgin olive oil
Method 1. Place the chopped tomatoes, onion, garlic and basil in a bowl. Add in about 3 tablespoons of olive oil and stir until evenly coated.2. Next, slice the ciabatta rolls down the middle and then halve the sliced pieces. Place bread side up on a baking tray and spoon equal amounts of the tomato mixture onto each piece. 3. Drizzle a small amount of olive oil over the top of each piece and bake in a preheated oven at 180 degrees celsius / 350 degrees fahreheit / gas mark 4 for approximately 6-8 minutes until the topping is hot, taking care not to let the bruschetta burn. Serve immediately.
Variations Alternatively, you could toast the ciabatta rolls in advance then spoon on the tomato mixture and serve if you prefer the bruschetta topping cold. Also, although basil is the herb traditionally used a lot in Italian cooking, fresh coriander also works very well as an alternative in this bruschetta recipe.
Top Tip For an even deeper flavor, make the tomato mixture in advance then chill in the fridge for a little while to allow all the different flavors to marinade.
Nutrition Nugget Tomatoes contain a chemical known as lycopene, which medical research has suggested may help fight against prostate cancer.
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