This homemade balsamic tomato bruschetta recipe is so fresh! Add high-quality balsamic vinegar to ripe cherry tomatoes, garlic, shallot, fresh basil, and top onto crispy crostini for a quick and easy appetizer. Ready in just 15 minutes!
Preheat the oven to 375°F. Slice the baguette into 1/4 to 1/2 inch slices, either on the bias (diagonal for more surface area) or perpendicular to the loaf of bread (straight across). Spread baguette slices on a baking sheet. Drizzle with olive oil (don’t drench them, dry areas are ok) and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Flip slices over and repeat.
1 baguette, Drizzle olive oil
Bake the slices for 5-7 minutes on each side until golden brown and crispy. Keep an eye on them so they don't burn, the thinner they are, the less time they will need.
If needed, place the diced tomatoes in a strainer and toss with a pinch of salt to allow the excess water to release. See notes above.
2 cups cherry or Roma tomatoes
In a bowl, add the tomatoes, basil, garlic, shallot, and olive oil. Add salt and pepper to taste. You can also mix the balsamic vinegar in now, or drizzle it on each piece of bruschetta when serving.
½ cup basil, 3 garlic cloves, 1 Tablespoon shallot, 1 Tablespoon olive oil, Salt and Pepper
Top each crostini slice with the tomato bruschetta mixture. I use about 2 tablespoons per toast, just enough so it's covered and piled high, but not enough that it all falls over. Serve immediately with additional basil garnish or flaky salt as desired.
2 Tablespoon high-quality balsamic vinegar
Notes
Grilling the Bread - brush each side of the baguette slices with olive oil, then place on the grill over medium-high heat for about 2 minutes on each side, until toasted.
Store any leftover tomato mixture in an airtight container in the fridge.
If your tomatoes are extra juicy, either drain them in a strainer as described in the blog post or remove the seeds to prevent the mixture from becoming overly wet.