Classic Bruschetta
With juicy fresh tomatoes and an irresistible sweet-and-tangy balsamic glaze, this classic bruschetta recipe is always a crowd-pleasing appetiser!
When you’re entertaining, the best recipes are the kind that wow your guests, while being incredibly easy to make. This tomato bruschetta recipe definitely qualifies—it comes together in just 15 minutes and the combination of ripe tomatoes, syrupy balsamic glaze, and crusty bread makes it impossible to eat just one!
Why You’ll Love This Classic Bruschetta Recipe
- Simple flavours shine. To make the base of this recipe, all you need are excellent ingredients: fresh tomatoes, delicious bread, good olive oil, and some garlic. Then, the balsamic glaze brings it all together!
- Easy to make—and easy to make ahead. You can prep the tomato portion of this bruschetta recipe ahead of time, but even if you don’t it still only takes 15 minutes from start to finish.
- Versatile. Bruschetta is a classic party snack, but it doesn’t have to be limited to that! Sometimes I’ll make bruschetta for a light lunch or dinner, too.
Notes on Ingredients
Scroll down to the recipe card to find the ingredient quantities and recipe instructions.
Tomato Bruschetta:
- Tomatoes – Bruschetta is a great opportunity to use some of those beautiful heirloom tomatoes you see at the farmers’ market. Any variety will work as long as it’s ripe and juicy!
- Olive oil – Use a good, fruity extra-virgin olive oil if you have one.
- Fine sea salt and ground black pepper
- Bread – I like to use my Garlic and Rosemary Focaccia Bread, but Olive Bread would be fantastic too.
- Garlic
Balsamic Glaze:
- Balsamic vinegar – You’ll be cooking the vinegar down into a glaze, so you don’t need to start with an expensive syrupy vinegar.
- Sugar
- Sea salt and ground black pepper
- Herbs – Basil is the classic herb used with bruschetta. However, so many herbs pair well with tomatoes that it’s hard to go wrong.
How to Make Classic Bruschetta
- Make the topping. Toss the diced tomatoes with the oil, salt, and pepper.
- Toast the bread. Slice focaccia and toast for about 3 minutes. Rub the cut sides of the garlic over the top of the bread to infuse it with garlicky flavour.
- Make the glaze. Add all of the ingredients into a heavy pan and bring to a boil over medium-high. Cook until thickened, about 5 minutes.
- Assemble. Spoon the bruschetta topping over the bread and drizzle the glaze on top. Add the herbs and serve.
Tips for Success
- Make a bruschetta bar for assemble-your-own. If you anticipate that your platter of bruschetta will be sitting out for a bit, you might want to have your guests make their own bruschetta to keep the bread from getting soggy. In that case, toast the bread, rub it with garlic, and set it on a tray; place the tomato mixture in a bowl and drizzle the glaze over the top.
- Don’t make the tomato topping too far in advance. Tomatoes have a tendency to get mealy in the fridge, so I don’t recommend making the tomato topping for this classic bruschetta recipe more than half a day ahead of time.
- Get the right level of toasty-ness for the focaccia. Toasting is important because it helps the bread stand up to the juicy tomatoes. But if the focaccia is too hard, it can be difficult to eat. You want to strike a good balance between soft and crispy.
Variations
- Caprese bruschetta. Layer slices of fresh vegan mozzarella (I like the soft kind made with cashews!) under the tomatoes.
- Tomato peach bruschetta. Swap half the tomatoes with peaches. The two go together quite well!
- Roasted tomato bruschetta. Instead of raw tomatoes, use roasted tomatoes for some caramelised flavour and a more jammy texture.
How to Store
Keep the focaccia in an airtight container at room temperature for 2 to 3 days. Refrigerate the tomato topping for 2 to 3 days and the balsamic glaze for up to a month.
Enjoy friends! If you make this classic bruschetta recipe, please snap a photo and tag #jessicainthekitchen on Instagram! We’d also love it if you would leave a comment below, and give the recipe a rating! Thanks so much!
Classic Bruschetta
Ingredients
Bruschetta:
- 3 firm medium tomatoes
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 teaspoon fine sea salt
- ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1 vegan focaccia loaf
- 1 clove of garlic, cut in half
Balsamic Glaze:
- ½ cup balsamic vinegar
- 2 tablespoons sugar
- ½ teaspoon fine sea salt
- ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
- herbs, for garnish
Instructions
Bruschetta
- Dice tomatoes into small cubes, and place in a bowl with olive oil, salt, and pepper. Toss to coat, and set aside.
- Slice focaccia loaf into slices as a base for bruschetta. Toast the slices for about 3 minutes until toasted. Brush the fresh hot slices with garlic.
- Top with the tomato mixture, then balsamic glaze. Serve immediately.
Balsamic Glaze
- In a pot over medium high heat, heat all the ingredients and stir. Watch carefully – the glaze should begin to thicken after 5 minutes and you want it thick enough to stick to the back of a spoon, but not to thicken into a glob. It becomes overly thick very quickly, so watch carefully.
- Once glaze has thickened, remove from heat. Pour over the bruschetta. Top with herbs.
- The glaze can be stored in the refrigerator once it has cooled down for at least a month.
Notes
Disclaimer: Although jessicainthekitchen.com attempts to provide accurate nutritional information, kindly note that these are only estimates. Nutritional information may be affected based on the product type, the brand that was purchased, and in other unforeseeable ways. Jessicainthekitchen.com will not be held liable for any loss or damage resulting for your reliance on nutritional information. If you need to follow a specific caloric regimen, please consult your doctor first.
Holy moly does that look good!
Thanks Jocelyn!
This bruschetta looks amazing! I love the twist on this classic- so unique, but really delicious!
Thanks Jess!
These look amazing Jessica! Really pretty too! A simple classic for the win!!
Thanks Sophia!
Jessica, I’m printing this out and making it for me ‘n the Hubs over the weekend. Bruschetta is the best and I haven’t had it in forever! Yours looks incredible. All those fresh, beautiful vegetables on top and that balsamic glaze! Be still my rumbling stomach! I can’t wait to eat this!
I love simple, classic recipes! But the addition of focaccia makes this one stand out! Delicious! I want to reach through the screen and grab one! Thanks for the recipe Jessica!
Bruschetta is one of those appetizers that I am powerless over. All of my favorite things – olive oil, bread, balsamic, juicy tomatoes – all together! I’m definitely going to make that glaze. Love that it stays for awhile in the fridge!
Wow, this looks fantastic! I am a sucker for bruschetta and this sounds all kinds of amazing especially with the balsamic glaze!
Holy cow. So, after “sandwiches,” “bruschetta” and “anything with balsamic glaze” are in a tie for my favorite food. You may have invented the world’s most perfect dish. Is it creepy that I’m hanging these pictures over my bed?
Oh my gosh how am I just seeing this comment?! HILARIOUS!!! <3 Thanks Maggie!
Hi, Jessica! These look simply amazing. So good, in fact, that I’ve chosen them as one of my appetizers for Thanksgiving dinner this year. Thank YOU for sharing!
Thank you so much Adrianne, that’s truly an honour! I hope you had an amazing Thanksgiving!
This looks yummy. I love anything with balsamic.
Thanks Linda!