Tomato Basil Bruschetta

This tomato basil bruschetta recipe is a recreation of BJ’s Restaurant favorite. It’s healthy and easy to make in only 10 minutes! The perfect snack for a picnic or appetizer for your next Italian dinner party!

I’ve been making this tomato basil bruschetta recipe for decades and I can’t say enough good things about how easy it is to make and how delicious it is to eat! Every time I make it for a dinner party, guests rave about how fresh and flavorful it is!

My inspiration for this recipe came from the original BJ’s restaurant in Southern California. Before they became a chain found across the country, there were only about a dozen BJ’s restaurants in Southern California and they served the best Tomato Basil Bruschetta.

One day I went to BJ’s and found that this bruschetta was no longer on the menu. I was so upset, but I came home determined to re-create and perfect the recipe at home. I can now proudly say that I did just that!

Ingredients

• Fresh roma tomatoes – the base for the bruschetta. These firm red tomatoes do not contain as much liquid as other tomatoes, making them perfect for a flavorful bruschetta, that’s not watered down by tomato juices.
• Red onion – this is my preferred onion to use in bruschetta. These onions have more “bite” than a traditional yellow onion, adding a nice, bright flavor to the bruschetta. If you prefer a sweeter flavor, you can use a sweet white onion, like a Vidalia, instead of the red onion.
• Garlic – I recommend fresh minced cloves for the best flavor.
• Fresh basil – this delicious herb adds a sweet and slightly spicy flavor.
• Extra virgin olive oil
• Balsamic vinegar – this variety of vinegar has a rich, sweet flavor, unlike other types of vinegar that have a more sharp, pungent taste. It adds a complex flavor to the bruschetta that makes it oh-so-delicious!
• Salt and black pepper – to flavor the bruschetta.
• Parmesan cheese – I recommend fresh grated parmesan cheese to finish the bruschetta with the best flavor.

Instructions

1. Combine all of the ingredients in a large bowl, except the parmesan cheese.
2. Sprinkle the parmesan cheese on top.
3. If serving with a toasted baguette, place the baguette in the oven, set at 350°F for 5 minutes. Slice the baguette and top with the tomato basil bruschetta.

As a bonus, feel free to drizzle with a little balsamic reduction for a beautiful presentation!

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