Bruschetta with Artichoke Cream

Here is a delicious recipe for bruschetta with artichoke cream, a fresh and tasty starter that can be served as an appetizer or to accompany an aperitif.

Ingredients

• 4 slices of bread (homemade style or baguette)
• 400 g of cleaned artichokes (fresh or frozen)
• 1 clove of garlic
• Juice of 1/2 a lemon
• 2 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil, plus a bit more for brushing the bread
• Salt and pepper to taste
• Grated Parmesan cheese (optional)
• Chopped fresh parsley (for garnish)

Preparation

1. If you are using fresh artichokes, clean them by removing the toughest leaves and cutting them into wedges. Place them in water with the lemon juice to prevent oxidation.
2. Cook the artichokes in boiling salted water for about 10-15 minutes or until they are tender. Drain and let cool.
3. Blend the artichokes with the extra virgin olive oil, the garlic clove, salt, and pepper until you obtain a smooth and homogeneous cream. If you wish, you can add a bit of grated Parmesan cheese to enhance the flavor.
4. Take the slices of bread and lightly brush them with olive oil on both sides. You can grill them in the oven under the grill or on a grill pan until they are golden and crispy.
5. Once the bread slices are ready, spread them with the artichoke cream.
6. Garnish the bruschetta with chopped parsley, and if you like, with a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil.

Serve the bruschettas warm or at room temperature as you prefer.

Fun Facts

The word “bruschetta” comes from the Roman dialect verb “bruscare,” which means “to toast”. Originally, bruschetta was a way to use up stale bread by toasting it and flavoring it with simple ingredients such as garlic, oil, and tomato.