Crunchy Meets Creamy In This Irresistible Fresh Mozzarella Tomato Bruschetta Recipe
In-season tomatoes really shine in these garlicky bite size toasts
Bruschetta, one of my favorite appetizers, is the perfect summertime bite. In fact, pretty much everyone loves this zesty combination of juicy tomatoes, creamy cheese and fresh basil served atop crispy toasts! For even more deliciousness, we upgrade this classic with one easy step to take it to new heights.
Many Bruschetta recipes call for chopped garlic. And while this aromatic enhances countless dishes, when eaten raw, it can sometimes be too pungent. That’s why, for our Fresh Mozzarella Tomato Bruschetta recipe, we roast an entire head. Cooking cloves in the skins allows the sugars to caramelize without burning. The result is a creamy paste with nutty notes. It adds a zingy pop to grilled meats and vegetables — you can even stir it into softened butter! For this recipe we squeeze the softened cloves over crostini before topping with the tomato mixture. Give it a try then leave a comment below.
Yields
Total Time
Prep Time
Cook Time
Ingredients
- 1 head garlic
- 5 Tbs. olive oil + additional
- 12 (1⁄2" thick) slices Italian bread, from 10-oz. loaf
- 8 oz. fresh mozzarella
- 3 cups heirloom cherry tomatoes, halved
- ½ cup thinly sliced red onion
- Chopped fresh basil and capers
Instructions
Heat oven to 375°F. Trim about 1⁄2" from top of garlic; transfer to sheet of foil. Drizzle with 1 Tbs. oil; wrap loosely in foil. Bake until garlic is very soft, about 1 hr.; let cool. Arrange bread slices in single layer on baking sheet. Brush with 2 Tbs. olive oil. Bake until toasted, 5-7 min. Let cool.
Squeeze roasted garlic from skins; transfer to bowl and mash until smooth. Spread over bread. Tear mozzarella into pieces. Transfer to bowl. Add tomatoes, onion, 2 Tbs. oil, basil, capers, 1⁄4 tsp. salt and 1⁄4 tsp. pepper; toss until combined. Divide tomato mixture and mozzarella evenly among toasts. Drizzle with additional olive oil.
Nutrition
- Calories: 400
- Fat: 22 gram
- Saturated Fat: 7 gram
- Protein: 13 gram
- Carbohydrate: 36 gram
- Fiber: 1 gram
- Cholesterol: 25 mg
- Sugar: 5 gram
- Sodium: 510 mg
