This bruschetta with mozzarella is the most perfect appetizer to serve for any occasion! It is light, fresh, easy to make, quick, and always a crowd-pleaser!
This easy appetizer is made with fresh tomatoes, basil, balsamic vinegar, salt, and pepper, olive oil, and fresh mozzarella that is marinated for 30 minutes and then topped on toasted french bread that is brushed with oil.
If you like Italian recipes, check out our easy tiramisu, tiramisu cups, torta Caprese (chocolate torte cake), and our Italian wedding cookies.
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Why this recipe works
- It is an easy appetizer that comes together in under an hour from start to finish!
- This appetizer is fresh, flavorful, and light. It is everything you are looking for in an appetizer.
- This recipe is made with super simple ingredients that you may have laying in your kitchen.
- This recipe is perfect if you need to prepare a quick appetizer that everyone loves.
- It is the perfect appetizer for parties, special occasions,
What is bruschetta?
Bruschetta is pronounced 'brusketa', and is an Italian appetizer made by toasting Italian bread that is brushed with olive oil and rubbed with fresh garlic, then topping the bread with a mixture of marinated tomatoes that is usually made with Roma tomatoes, basil, garlic, balsamic vinegar, salt, pepper, and olive oil!
Bruschetta actually refers to the toasted bread and not the tomato mixture. The bread is usually topped with a variety of different toppings.
Some people like topping bruschetta with a variety of different toppings from mushrooms, red peppers, cheeses, and more!
Ingredients
Before you start to make this recipe, measure and prepare your ingredients so the cooking process will go smoothly and easily.
Full measurements are in the recipe card below.
Tomatoes- if you can, use Roma tomatoes or Roma cherry tomatoes. They are extra flavorful and delicious, I highly recommend them. If you don't have them available, use the tomatoes you have on hand.
Balsamic vinegar- use your favorite brand of balsamic vinegar for this recipe!
Garlic- we suggest adding the garlic to taste. We used fresh garlic for this recipe for the best flavor.
Olive oil- use extra virgin olive oil for the best flavor.
Mozzarella- I used fresh mozzarella from the store and cut it into cubes. You can also use mozzarella pearls for this!
Salt- for flavor. Adjust the salt to your personal taste.
Black pepper- for flavor. Adjust the black pepper to your personal liking.
Basil- use fresh basil for the best flavor and aroma.
Baguette- your baguette can be one, two, or three days old! Since we toast slices of the baguette, there is no need to use fresh baguettes from the bakery.
Instructions
Preheat an oven to 200c (400f) and prepare a baking sheet with parchment paper.
Cut french bread or a baguette diagonally into ½-inch thick slices. Lay the slices on a parchment paper lined baking sheet and brush each slice with olive oil and rub fresh garlic on each slice. (do that on both sides of the toast)
Bake the bread toasts in a 200c (400f) preheated oven for 5-7 minutes.
Cut each tomato in half, and use a spoon to remove the seeds to prevent the tomatoes from being too watery. Cut the tomatoes into small pieces. You can cut them into larger pieces if you'd like.
Into a large mixing bowl, add the tomatoes, chopped basil, balsamic vinegar, chopped mozzarella, kosher salt, black pepper, olive oil, and minced garlic, and mix well. Set aside and let the mixture marinate for about 30 minutes.
Assemble the mozzarella marinated tomato mixture onto the sliced toasted bread and top it with more balsamic vinegar or olive oil if desired. Serve and enjoy!
Expert Tips
- I highly recommend removing the seeds from the tomatoes. Removing the seeds and juices from the tomatoes will ensure that your bruschetta will not be soggy.
- Don't skip toasting the bread! Toasted bread makes this appetizer the perfect appetizer with the perfect texture of cold tomatoes, and warm and crispy bread.
- You can prep the tomato mixture ahead of time! You can make it and store it in the fridge for up to 3 days.
Faq's
To keep your bruschetta crispy, top the bread with the tomato mixture right before you serve them!
Bruschetta is actually the bread and not the topping.
Bruschetta can be served hot or cold. Usually, bruschetta is served with warm toasted bread which is topped with cold marinated tomatoes. If you want your bruschetta hot, you can warm up your tomatoes on the stovetop or in the microwave.
Bruschetta usually uses french or Italian bread, and often uses high water content bread like sourdough!
It is usually made with diced tomatoes (usually Roma tomatoes), fresh basil, balsamic vinegar, salt, and pepper. Some recipes use olive oil and garlic, just like this one!
Storing
Store the tomato mixture in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. When you are ready to use, toast the bread and top it with the cold tomato mixture!
Freezing
I don't recommend freezing the bruschetta or the tomato mixture. It is very quick and easy to make the taste best fresh. What you can do is freeze sliced french bread, and then bake them until they get crispy.
Serving tips
I highly recommend serving the bruschetta and tomato mixture separately. I arrange the toasted bread on a serving plate and keep the tomato mixture in a separate bowl. This way, everyone can assemble their bruschetta and keep the toasts from getting soggy.
I love adding another drizzle of balsamic vinegar for a stronger flavor.
Lunch- make this dish into a quick light lunch by toasting a sourdough slice of bread and topping it with the tomato mixture. Add protein on top like grilled chicken, scrambled eggs, salmon, tuna, etc.
Make ahead instructions
Prepare the tomato mixture a day or two in advance, cover it with plastic wrap, and store it in the fridge for up to two days. Then toast the bread as written in the instructions and serve!
For a crowd
You can make this recipe for a crowd. Simply double, or triple this recipe on the recipe card below!
Substitutions
Gluten-free- you can use gluten-free bread to make this bruschetta recipe gluten-free!
Dairy-free- if you are dairy free, feel free to skip the mozzarella or swap it with vegan cheese or vegan mozzarella.
Variations
Onion- add ¼ cup of chopped red onion to the tomato mixture. Some people enjoy adding red onions to the marinated tomato mixture for extra texture and flavor!
Spicy- to make the tomato mixture spicy, add chili flakes or cayenne pepper!
Pesto- add a thin layer of pesto on top of the toast and then top it with the marinated tomatoes.
More appetizers
Honey lemon pepper wings- These honey lemon pepper wings are made with a sweet and savory glaze, baked in the oven or in an air fryer, are extra easy to make, and taste absolutely incredible.
Crispy greek fries- These crispy greek fries are tender on the inside and extra crispy on the outside and are coated with dried herbs, lemon zest, garlic, and olive oil. Then they are topped with fresh herbs and crumbled feta cheese.
Butter board- This butter board is the new Tiktok trend that took over the internet. This is perfect for parties, brunches, and serving fresh bread.
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📖 Recipe
Bruschetta With Mozzarella (10 minute recipe)
Ingredients
- 1 Baguette
- 2 ½ cups Tomatoes chopped, without the seeds
- 3 tablespoon Olive oil plus more for the bread
- 1 tablespoon Balsamic vinegar
- 1 cup Fresh mozzarella cut into cubes
- 1 Kosher salt to taste
- ½ Black pepper to taste
- 3 cloves Garlic freshly grated
- ⅓ cup Basil fresh, chopped
Instructions
- Preheat an oven to 200c (400f) and prepare a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Cut french bread or a baguette diagonally into ½-inch thick slices. Lay the slices on a parchment paper lined baking sheet and brush each slice with olive oil and rub fresh garlic on each slice. (do that on both sides of the toast)
- Bake the bread toasts in a 200c (400f) preheated oven for 5-7 minutes.
- Cut each tomato in half, and use a spoon to remove the seeds to prevent the tomatoes from being too watery. Cut the tomatoes into small pieces. You can cut them into larger pieces if you'd like.
- Into a large mixing bowl, add the tomatoes, chopped basil, balsamic vinegar, chopped mozzarella, kosher salt, black pepper, olive oil, and minced garlic, and mix well. Set aside and let the mixture marinate for about 30 minutes.
- Assemble the mozzarella marinated tomato mixture onto the sliced toasted bread and top it with more balsamic vinegar or olive oil if desired. Serve and enjoy!
Notes
- I highly recommend removing the seeds from the tomatoes. Removing the seeds and juices from the tomatoes will ensure that your bruschetta will not be soggy.
- Don't skip toasting the bread! Toasted bread makes this appetizer the perfect appetizer with the perfect texture of cold tomatoes, and warm and crispy bread.
- You can prep the tomato mixture ahead of time! You can make it and store it in the fridge for up to 3 days.
Jesse
This is so good! 5 star