Bruschetta aglio e olio

Garlic and oil bruschetta is a simple yet delicious Italian appetizer. Here’s how to prepare it.

Ingredients

• Slices of homemade bread or baguette
• Garlic
• Extra virgin olive oil
• Salt
• Pepper (optional)
• Tomatoes (optional, for a fresh variant)

Preparation

1. Take slices of homemade bread or baguette and toast them until they are crispy and golden. You can use a toaster, a grill, or an oven to toast the bread.

2. While the bread is still warm, rub a peeled garlic clove on the surface of each slice so that the garlic will “melt” slightly from the heat, flavoring them.

3. Sprinkle the bread slices with good quality extra virgin olive oil. It’s important not to be too sparing with the oil; a bruschetta must be slightly “soaked” to be authentic.

4. Add a pinch of salt, and if you like, a grind of black pepper.

5. Serve immediately while they are still warm.

Variations:

• For a richer variant, you can add diced cherry tomatoes, seasoned with salt, oil, and basil, to put on top of the bread after the garlic and oil.
• Some appreciate a drizzle of balsamic vinegar or a light pesto as a final touch.

Did you know?

Bruschetta is an ancient dish, whose origins date back to the time of the ancient Romans, who ate toasted bread as a simple and nutritious snack. “Bruscare” in Roman dialect means “to toast,” and from here comes the name “bruschetta”.