The Best Bread For Actually Impressive Bruschetta
Bruschetta is a primary example of what makes Italian food so well-loved. It is a dish composed of just a few simple ingredients that work perfectly together. In the most classic rendition, a piece of toasted bread provides the base for a tiny mountain of diced tomatoes seasoned with olive oil, salt, and thin slices of basil. The whole thing takes only a couple of minutes to put together and the result is an easy, affordable, nutritious, and delicious snack. While a row of bruschetta may look instantly impressive on a plate, the key to making bruschetta that also tastes impressive is partially hidden: the bread.
Presentation matters, but when it comes to enjoying the eating experience, the most important thing when building your bruschetta is to start with good bread. With so few ingredients, this component is utterly essential to the taste and structural integrity of this dish. For the best bruschetta, opt for a loaf of country-style bread.
Why you should use country-style bread and what to do with it
Though the bread of bruschetta may seem like just a vessel for carrying colorful toppings, its role is foundational. The entire dish would fall apart without its support, so you need to be thoughtful when choosing your loaf. Whether you make yours from scratch or buy it from a local bakery or grocery store, a country-style loaf is the way to go. Its craggy crust and spongy interior offer a soft, yet strong base for holding the weight of the toppings and absorbing the moisture from these ingredients. Made with just flour, water, salt, and yeast, this bread has a mild flavor that allows the toppings to shine.
Make sure to cut your country-style loaf into thick slices, about the width of your finger (about half an inch). You don't want the bruschetta to be too big to bite into, but it's best to err on the thicker side. Slice the bread too thinly, and it is prone to becoming soggy and will fall apart in your hands. It's also important to toast the bread after slicing. This adds depth of flavor while also making the base sturdier.
Tips and tricks for top-notch toppings
The beauty of bruschetta is that it is incredibly versatile. While fresh tomato bruschetta with basil is the most common version, you can make it with whatever you have on hand or whatever you are currently craving. If you want something similarly simple and fresh, substitute the tomatoes for another diced fruit, such as peaches or strawberries. You can also swap out the basil for a different herb, like mint or tarragon. In this way, you can even explore transforming your bruschetta from a savory side to a sweet snack. Drizzle a little chocolate hazelnut spread on there instead of vinegar, and you can call it dessert.
While it is important that the bread for your bruschetta be high quality, it doesn't have to be fresh — and neither do the toppings. Bruschetta is a great way to repurpose bread that has started to go stale and other foods that are slightly past their prime. Make use of bruised fruits and vegetables by roasting them and dressing them with balsamic vinegar as a bruschetta topping.