Heirloom tomato Bruschetta

What are heirloom tomatoes?

Heirloom basically means older varieties of tomatoes that have been passed down for generations for their unique color, flavor and texture. They come in a variety of colors and usually have quirky shapes.

Also try this Heirloom tomato salad with burrata.

Ingredients

This recipe uses simple ingredients that lets the natural flavors shine. Buying good quality ingredients for this dish will make all the difference.  Use the freshest, sweetest tomatoes you can get your hands on, really good quality extra virgin olive oil and a tasty baguette.

• Heirloom tomatoes – They come in all shapes and sizes and are packed with flavor. Use your favorit or a mix of different varieties. Roma tomatoes can also be substituted.
• Basil – fresh basil is a tomatoes best friend and brings all the flavor!
• Garlic – Adds a punch of bold flavor.
• Extra virgin olive oil – the mild fruity flavor of a good quality olive oil with help accent all the flavors in this bruschetta recipe.
• Salt and black pepper – I used sea salt but kosher salt also works well. The tomatoes need a little salt to really bring out the flavor.
• Baguette, for serving up the bruschetta on. Preferably sour dough with a crispy exterior. Can also be substitute with Italian or French loaf of bread.

See recipe card for quantities.

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The classic flavors of the tomato bruschetta can also be elevated with some of the following additions:

• Fresh mozzarella, chopped
• Sun dried tomatoes, packed in oil, drained and chopped. The oil from the sun dried tomatoes can also be used in the bruschetta instead of olive oil.
• Feta cheese, crumbled
• Burrata cheese, top with some creamy and delicious burrata and a drizzle of olive oil.
• Olives, some chopped olives of choice will add a lot of flavor and texture.

Substitutions and variations

The ingredient list for the classic tomato basil bruschetta is short, there are just a few ingredients so try to get the best quality for maximum flavor.

• Heirloom tomatoes – They are packed with flavor! If they aren’t in season use the freshest and most flavour tomatoes you can get, cherry tomatoes or grape tomatoes are also a good options. Or homegrown tomatoes!
• Basil – it is hard to substitute the flavor of fresh basil. If you can’t get it, add a little good quality basil pesto.
• Bread – A baguette will give good size slices that aren’t too big to handle. Can also be substitute with a similar sized bread, even whole grain. A loaf of Italian or French bread also works, if it is big, you can always cat it in half.
• Gluten-free – for a gluten-free bruschetta recipe, use a gluten-free baguette or similar bread.

Top Tip

You can also prepare the tomatoes ahead of time. That gives the flavors time to mingle and the tomatoes get to marinate in all those gorgeous juices.

The tomatoes taste best at room temperature so store them on the counter before making this recipe instead of in the fridge. Toast the bread just before serving, and top with the tomatoes. Serve this tomato toast pretty quickly after putting the tomatoes of the bread or you will end up with soggy toast.

Can I use other tomatoes than heirloom?

Yes, the best replacement would be the freshest and most flavour tomatoes you can find at the market. Or homegrown tomatoes!