Skip to main content

Tomato-Basil Bruschetta

This is a classic that everyone should know how to do well. The trick here has nothing to do with cooking and everything to do with using only seasonal ingredients. When summer tomatoes are pristine and basil is at its peak, that’s when you want to whip this baby up. By the way, it’s pronounced “broo-SKET-ta”—NOT “broo-SHETT-ta.”

Recipe information

  • Yield

    serves: 6

Ingredients

4 large tomatoes, seeded and cut into 1/4-inch dice
6 to 8 fresh basil leaves, cut into a chiffonade (see below)
2 tablespoons red wine vinegar, or to taste
Kosher salt
2 cloves garlic, smashed and finely chopped, plus 1 whole clove
1/4 cup big fat finishing oil
1 baguette, cut into 1/2-inch slices on the bias

Preparation

  1. Step 1

    Preheat a grill.

    Step 2

    Combine the tomatoes, basil, vinegar, salt, smashed garlic, and big fat finishing oil in a large bowl, toss well, and reserve.

    Step 3

    Toast the baguette slices on the grill; when lightly charred on both sides, 3 to 4 minutes total, remove them and rub each slice with the whole garlic clove. Top with the lovely tomato-basil mixture.

  2. note

    Step 4

    A chiffonade is a thin ribbon cut used for fresh basil, mint, and other fragile leaves that can bruise very easily, turn black, and look gross. To chiffonade, you can either cut the herbs with kitchen shears or roll up the herbs and run through them with a very sharp knife. Either way, you don’t want to crash your knife (especially a dull one!) down on top of the leaves or they’ll certainly turn black. Ick.

Cook Like a Rock Star
Read More
Khao niaow ma muang, or steamed coconut sticky rice with ripe mango, is a classic in Thai cuisine—and you can make it at home.
Saucy, soy-honey salmon—cut into cubes to speed up the cooking process—makes a savory topping for a quick weeknight bowl.
These decadent brownies feature a sweet, minty topping complemented by a rich dark chocolate ganache and mini chocolate chips for added texture.
With just a handful of ingredients, this old-fashioned egg custard is the little black dress of dinner party desserts—simple and effortlessly chic.
This summery sheet-pan dinner celebrates the bounty of the season and couldn't be simpler to make. Chorizo plays nicely with the salad, thanks to its spice.
Juicy peak-season tomatoes make the perfect plant-based swap for aguachile.
With rich chocolate flavor and easy customization, this hot cocoa recipe is just the one you want to get you through winter.
Who says ground chicken is boring? Two whole bunches of mint and some aromatics give these chicken meatballs their bracingly herby flavor.