Classic Bruschetta

Bruschetta is a simple dish, but it can easily go wrong. Even at nice restaurants I've been served everything from soggy-bread to rock hard slices. I like it crisp and able to hold the toppings, with a bit of soft bread inside.

I am posting the classic tomato-basil bruschetta, but bruschetta possibilites are endless. Have fun experimenting!

Click for Sierra's Bruschetta

4 roma tomatoes

1 small bunch basil leaves

1 T olive oil
1/2 t salt
1/8 fresh ground black pepper

1 loaf crusty french bread
2 T olive oil
1 clove garlic crushed

Keep slices on cooling rack so the bottom of the bread doesn't get soft. Drain excess juice from the tomatoes. Top each piece with the tomato-basil mixture and serve immediately.

Or serve with the tomatoes and basil on the side.

Classic Brushetta
makes 10-12 slices

4 roma tomatoes
1 small bunch basil leaves
1 T olive oil
1/2 t salt
1/8 fresh ground black pepper

1 loaf crusty french bread
2 T olive oil
1 clove garlic crushed

Tomatoes and Basil
Slice the tomatoes in half. Gently (1)squeeze out the seeds. Chop the tomatoes into small pieces. Set aside in a bowl. Chop the basil and add to the tomatoes. Toss with olive oil, salt, and pepper. Set aside.

Bread
Preheat oven broiler or grill on high. Slice the bread into 1 inch thick slices. Crush garlic into the oil. Brush both sides with the oil-garlic mixture. Place a (2)cooling rack on a jelly roll pan and set aside.

To broil: set each piece flat on prepared cooling rack, broil 2 minutes or until the edges start to brown. Flip each piece and broil an additional 2 minutes, or until the edges start to brown.

To grill: Set each piece flat on the hot grill. Cook 2-4 minutes or until it starts to brown. Grills often don't distribute heat very evenly, so check each piece periodically. Turn each piece and cook 2-4 minutes more, until it starts to brown. Transfer slices to the prepared cooling rack.

Serving
Keep slices on cooling rack so the bottom of the bread doesn't get soft. Drain excess juice from the tomatoes. Top each piece with the tomato-basil mixture and serve immediately, or serve with the tomato mixture on the side.

Notes
1. Tomato seeds - The seeds in tomatoes are bitter and surrounded by a lot of liquid which will make the bread soggy.

2. Crisp bread - Bruschetta is best when both sides of the bread are crisp. Letting them sit on a cooling rack after cooking will give them adequate air circulation to keep them crisp.