Brushetta
Posted on August 18, 2015 by Cooking for Students
Bruschetta is a quick and inexpensive way to bring the tastes of Italy into your dorm room. These slices of toasted bread finished with an herbaceous tomato and cheese topping will please both your palate and wallet. The tomatoes are sweet and acidic, the cheese is mild, soft and the other additions make this snack/appetizer even better. To make bruschetta all you need are a few fresh ingredients, good bread and a little time. The only cooking involved is toasting the bread.
What’s in it?
- 3-4 tomatoes, seeds removed and diced
- 1 loaf crusty bread
- 2 garlic cloves
- 1 cup mozzarella cheese, cubed
- 1 red onion, finely chopped
- Fresh basil leaves
- Olive oil
- Salt and black pepper, to taste
*Serves 4-6
How’s it made?
- Make the bruschetta topping by adding the diced tomatoes into a bowl along with the mozzarella and red onion.
- Tear up the basil leaves with your hands and mince the garlic. Add that to the tomatoes as well.
- Drizzle everything with some olive oil, a light drizzle is fine, and season with salt and pepper. Mix everything together and set it aside.
- Slice the bread diagonally in about 12 1 inch thick slices. If you are just making one small serving you just need 3-4 slices and you can use the remaining tomato mixture for a salad.
- Toast the bread in the oven until golden brown.
- Lightly drizzle each slice with olive oil before adding the tomato topping.
- Serve immediately.
Who knew that bread drizzled with oil and topped with tomatoes could taste so good? The concept is really simple but the end result is delectable. Putting the tomato and cheese mixture on the warm bread causes the mozzarella to melt a little. The taste of the cheese with juicy tomatoes, onions and basil creates this really refreshing flavor profile that keeps you coming back for more and the crunch from the toasted bread ties everything together. For those that want to give the bruschetta more bulk, consider adding shredded chicken on top. You can use leftovers you have in the fridge or pull the meat from a rotisserie chicken. Shredded steak also goes nicely and will transform this bruschetta into a nice little Italian lunch. Just because you are away at school doesn’t mean you cannot eat well. You just have to know what works.
