So, what is Bruschetta, anyway?
I always thought that bruschetta was some sort of a tomato salsa that is usually served on a piece of toasted bread, NOT the other way around. Well, much to my surprise, while searching the Net for some inspiration to make my own bruschetta, I learned that bruschetta would in fact be the piece of toast on which the tomato salsa is served…
According to Wikipedia:
Bruschetta is an appetizer from central Italy whose origin dates to at least the 15th century. It consists of roasted bread rubbed with garlic and topped with extra-virgin olive oil, salt and pepper. Variations may include toppings of spicy red pepper, tomato, vegetables, beans, cured meat, and/or cheese; the most popular recipe outside of Italy involves basil, fresh tomato, garlic and onion or mozzarella.
Yet, another article says:
True Bruschetta is simple enough for even the kitchen impaired cook to master. It is traditionally a toasted bread rubbed with garlic and then topped with Extra Virgin Olive Oil drizzled over the top. The final step is to add salt and pepper to taste making this a simple yet satisfying dish for everyone.
I’m not liking this. Seriously! What is this new develry? 
So, then I guess what I am presenting you with today is NOT bruschetta, it’s in fact tomato salsa served on toasts. For it to qualify as bruschetta, I would’ve had to add olive oil, salt and pepper to my toasts. Oh well, it was very good nonetheless and just what I had in mind.
I was in the mood for something light and refreshing, and, to be honest, I had a surplus of tomatoes that needed to be used quickly. This fit the bill just right, bruschetta or no bruschetta!
INGREDIENTS
Toasts
- 1 whole wheat baguette
- 1 or 2 garlic cloves
Tomato Salsa
- 3 tomatoes, seeded and finely diced
- 10 kalamata olives, finely chopped
- 3 tbsp red onions, finely chopped
- 2 tbsp fresh basil, finely chopped
- 2 tpsp fresh parsley, finely chopped
- 1 tsp white wine vinegar
- 1 tsp lemon juice
- ΒΌ tsp salt
- 1/8 tsp black pepper
- Goat cheese crumbles, to garnish
INSTRUCTIONS
- Mix all ingredients for the tomato salsa in a small bowl (except cheese) and set aside to macerate.
- While that is happening, slice your baguette on the diagonal and toast the bread, either in your toaster or in the oven under the broiler. You want your toasts to be really nice and crispy.
- As soon as the toasts come out, rub them delicately with a garlic clove and top with the tomato salsa.
- Sprinkle with goat cheese crumbles and serve immediately
Well that’s interesting. I always thought it was the other way around too! I guess I’ve been craving tomato salsa haha. I love it with lots of basil. Love that yours has cheese on top, I’ve never done that before.
Me neither… but I must admit that when I have goat cheese in the fridge, I tend to put some on everything!
I actually learned this the hard way in Italy; I was shocked when I received toast that I thought would be bruschetta… I suppose it was my silly American ways to expect some friggin tomatoes on top.
Oh no! Poor you! And I bet it cost you an arm and half a leg too!
Simple and sophisticated! I’m having my coffee group (which has turned into a luncheon group) next week. This might go quite nicely with vegetable lasagna. Now looking for an appropriate dessert. Any ideas?
Unfortunately, I don’t have that many dessert recipes, and the ones that I have aren’t of the heatlhy kind! I still have to learn how to “healthify” my sweets! I’m working on it, though…
If you don’t care about the healthy factor, then you definitely have to check out these Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Cheesecake Bars. They are pure heaven, I tell you! Or these Double Dark Chocolate Chip Cranberry Cookies. Richest , darkest chocolate cookie ever!
If you had something more health friendly in mind, might I suggest you take a look at Leanne’s site, over at Healthful Pursuit. She makes all sorts of beautiful and yummy yet heatlhy dessert snacks and treats. I’m pretty sure you could find something there that will tickle your fancy!
Have fun at your luncheon group!
Finalized the luncheon menu…Asian style chicken pasta salad (http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Sesame-Pasta-Chicken-Salad/Detail.aspx), orange walnut cake (http://www.wholeliving.com/recipe/orange-walnut-olive-oil-cake-with-sweet-yogurt) and plain bruschetta (toasted bread with olive oil and garlic). I was mighty tempted by that chocolate chip cookie dough cheesecake recipe but my friends just wouldn’t be enthusiastic about such a calorie rich dessert (they are always saying no to everything). I’ll just have to invite the ‘right’ people to warrant making such a yummy dessert!
YUM, looks good, Sandi! Plus, that orange walnut cake totally looks healtyfiable to me! I think I’ll bookmark it and give that a try sometime. I’d love to hear your thoughts on the original recipe once you’ve tried it, if you don’t mind!
And I hear you about the cheesecake bars! I would probably be the first one to pass on the offer. This is the kind of treat that I will only have once in a while, and that once in a while tends to be planned in advance. Mind you, knowing what they taste like (try, pure heaven!) I would probably make an exception for these babies!
They are simply the cheesecake lover’s dream! 
I have to stop looking at your site, those Bruschetta are killing me… :_)