Monday, December 8, 2008

Easy Italian Bruschetta Recipe-The Real Thing


One of the absolute best Italian foods is "bruschetta" or toasted sliced bread topped with olive oil and chopped tomatoes. Here is an easy Italian bruschetta recipe, which I call the real thing. This is how real Italian bruschetta is made:

Easy Italian Bruschetta Recipe
Day old bread (ciabatta,french bread,any wood oven baked bread)
Extra virgin olive oil
Salt
Garlic (optional)
Chopped ripe tomatoes (optional)


First the day old bread should be sliced not too thin nor not too wide. The slices should be about 1/4 inch to 1/2 inch wide. (The bread should not be fresh as it toasts better with one day to two days old bread).

Oven toasting
If you are using an oven, you should preheat it to 400 degrees F. Place the slices on a cookie sheet and bake until top is brownish in color. You should flip them to get them toasted on both sides. Depends on oven, but usually takes no more than 5 minutes total.

Toaster toasting, Frying pan, Barbeque
You can also toast slices in your toaster and keep an eye on them until they are golden brown. You can also place slices in a frying pan or on the barbeque (do not butter or oil pan) and then flip them when they are brownish in color.

In the wood burning fireplace- Best method
Place the slices on your grill and flip them when golden brown.

Take slices out of oven, toaster,fireplace,etc. You are ready for the topping.

Sprinkle salt on slices. At this point garlic is an option. (I personally do not like it). Take a fresh clove and run it across the slice. *

Next pour carefully only the best quality extra virgin olive oil on the slices. The bread should not become soggy with oil. Only enough oil so that the entire slice has oil on it.

You are ready to serve your bruschetta.

-------------------------------

*Tomato topping option
If you decide you want to top with tomatoes. Prepare sliced ripe tomatoes separately in a small bowl, add enough olive oil to help mix tomatoes, add pinch of salt. Add the topping before adding the olive oil.

No comments: