When summertime gives you perfectly ripe and juicy tomatoes, one of the best ways to enjoy them is also one of the easiest. Simply dice the tomatoes, season them with a touch of salt, add a generous amount of good quality olive oil, and spoon the mixture over thick slices of toasted or grilled bread. Bing bow. You’ve just made Bruschetta.
Ingredients include:
- About a tablespoon of extra virgin olive oil.
- About 5-8 Roma (plum) tomatoes.
- 1/3 cup of fresh chopped basil.
- 1 ounce of Parmesan cheese.
- 2 cloves of minced Garlic.
- Another 2 teaspoons of extra virgin olive oil
- Tablespoon of good quality balsamic vinegar.
- Kosher salt
- Fresh cracked black pepper.
Step 1: Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Brush bread slices on both sides lightly with 1 tablespoon of oil and place on a large baking sheet. Toast bread until golden, 5 to 10 minutes, turning halfway through.
Step 2: Meanwhile, toss together tomatoes, basil, Parmesan cheese, and garlic in a bowl. Mix in balsamic vinegar, 2 teaspoons olive oil, kosher salt, and pepper.
Step 3: Spoon tomato mixture onto toasted bread slices, squeeze some fresh lemon on top, lightly top it with a basil leaf, and some extra Parmesan for aesthetic and serve immediately.
Written by: Chef Dre