Caprese Bruschetta is hands down THE BEST APPETIZER EVER!! A basil bruschetta with a generous drizzle of zingy balsamic glaze, you will make it again and again!!
Recipes like our Bruschetta with Feta, Cold Stuffed Tomatoes and Grilled Chicken Bruschetta deliver fuss free appetizers that don't take hours to prepare!
Be it a late start brunch, an early lunch or light dinner, this recipe will tick ALL of your boxes!
If the idea of using fresh basil in your recipes floats your boat, you will also love the Basil and Cashew Pesto recipe!
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What does caprese mean
Caprese is an Italian salad featuring basil, tomatoes and mozzarella (or bocconcini).
Caprese Pesto Pasta Salad is a spin on the traditional with the addition of pesto and pasta and the omission of the balsamic glaze or vinegar.
Often served with oil or a balsamic reduction is known for its use of traditional ingredients and easily identifiable flavour.
We take the notion of the caprese salad for our bruschetta, toast up some rye sourdough, add a layer of basil pesto and drizzle with a zingy glaze!
Bruschetta topping ideas
Easy and versatile, bruschetta will loan itself to a number of suitable toppings.
The Bruschetta with feta is a simple vegetarian recipe.
Ideas for bruschetta toppings are:
- pesto
- strawberries
- tomatoes
- red onion
- mushroom
- fresh herbs
- roasted tomatoes
- zucchini
- cucumber
- ricotta
Ingredients needed
The ingredients for this recipe are simple and easy to find at the local shops. They are set out in the photo below so you can see exactly what you need:
As you can see, the recipe calls for:
- cherry tomatoes
- basil leaves
- bocconcini (can use mozzarella) same, same kindof!
- rye bread
- salt and pepper
- olive oil
- balsamic glaze
The bread crisps up in the oven and is delightful to 'crunch into'
How to make bruschetta caprese topping
The photos below are the easy step by step instructions you need to bring this dish together:
- use a knife to slice the bread (Photo 1)
- lay flat on baking tray (Photo 2)
- spray sliced bread with cooking oil (Photo 3)
- add basil to a medium sized mixing bowl and roughly chop (Photo 4)
The basil leaves only need a few chops with kitchen scissors, rough and loose is fine!
The spray oil helps give the bread the crunch factor!
Simple tomato mozzarella bruschetta instructions
- slice the tomatoes (Photo 5)
- add the sliced tomatoes to the chopped basil (Photo 6)
- add the bocconcini to the basil tomato mix (Photo 7)
- season the tomato salad with salt and pepper (Photo 8)
The caprese salad is SO easy to bring together!! Tomatoes, basil and mozzarella all compliment each other so well and the salt, pepper and oil pulls the flavours together!
If you can't locate mozzarella, look for bocconcini and vice versa!
- oven bake the bread till it is toasted (Photo 9)
- spread the bread with pesto for each slice (Photo 10)
- season the salad with oil (Photo 11)
- stir to combine (Photo 12)
If you are not looking to serve your bruschetta straight away, hold off on adding the oil, topping the bruschetta and drizzling with balsamic glaze until you are (this will keep it from going soggy!) .
Frequently asked questions
- there is 8 total ingredients for this recipe! (salt and pepper = 1)
- you can substitute spinach or rocket leaves for the basil
- you can make 6-8 slices of caprese tomato bruschetta with this recipe
- this is a quick, easy and simple recipe!
- you can serve it hot as the bread comes out of the oven or warm/cold!
- use traditional red or orange cherry tomatoes!
- the balsamic glaze is a difference consistency than balsamic vinegar (thick!!)
- if you want to make a caprese sandwich, simply close the bruschetta with another slice of bread!
- this is a vegetarian (but not vegan) recipe
- the recipe takes approx 15 mins
- This is perfect as an appetizer or for brunch!
Expert tips
These tips are to help you master this recipe from the 1st time you make it:
- use a chopping board and sharp knife as this will make the prep work TOO EASY!!
- kitchen scissors are the way to go for chopping the herbs (rough it is, not too fine)
- you can flip and toast both sides of the bread if you wish (extra effort and not necessary but you can!)
- make the salad ahead of time and then pull together when friends and family arrive!
- hold off drizzling the glaze till ready to serve!
Weekends seem to be the time when naturally we have more time for good food! Grab some nice chilled wine, these ingredients and get your bruschetta on!
Bruschetta Recipes
If entertaining, brunching and lunching are your thing, try these ideas:
Or if a healthy vegetarian wrap floats your boat, give my Haloumi Wrap a red hot go!!
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Recipe
Caprese Bruschetta
Equipment
- Chopping board
- Knife
- Kitchen scissors
- Flat Baking Tray
Ingredients
Caprese Bruschetta
- 6 slices rye sourdough Note 1
- 250 grams bocconcini drained, not rinsed
- 250 grams cherry tomatoes
- ½ bunch basil leaves
- ½ tsp salt
- ½ tsp pepper
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- ¼ cup basil pesto Note 2
- balsamic glaze to serve, Note 3
Instructions
Caprese Bruschetta
- Preheat your oven to 180°C / 350-375°F / Gas Mark 4-5
- Use a knife to slice your bread into even pieces, lay flat on lined baking tray and spray with cooking oil. Cook for 5 mins until bread is nicely toasted
- Add basil to a medium sized mixing bowl and use kitchen scissors to roughly chop
- Use a knife to cut cherry tomatoes in half and add to basil
- Cut bocconcini in halve and add to tomato basil mix
- Season salad with salt, pepper and oil. Stir to combine
- Use a knife to spread a layer of pesto onto each toasted slice of bread
- Use a spoon to scoop caprese salad over pesto layer
- Drizzle over balsamic glaze and serve
Video
Notes
- Note 1 This is my favourite type of bread to use when I am making bruschetta. You can, however use your favourite. Rye, white, wholegrain, baguette, almost all bread types will work. The freshly baked loaves are better quality than your average sliced loaf of bread.
- Note 2 I use the dip version of the basil pesto, it is in the fridge section of the store with the other dips.
- Note 3 Balsamic glaze is a thicker glaze than regular balsamic vinegar. It will, however, be in roughly the same area at the shops (inn a squeezy bottle). It is perfect to drizzle over salads and bruschetta like this. Wait till just before serving to use.
Nutrition
Appetizer recipes
If you are after quick, easy, delicious but also super tasty, this recipe is it!
The caprese salad comes together in minutes and is bright in colour and texture.
The goal here is to deliver variety, taste and freshness at the same time as getting it done quickly!
Ain't nobody got 5 hours to stand in their kitchen, so let's get this show on the road but still in a cool, calm and collected bruschetta minute!
Crunchy, toasted bread, bright colourful easy salad - yup and yup, the drizzle that is heaven sent with flavour - I've got you covered, you can stay a while!
Please give me a shout if you have questions or make the recipe as I would love to hear your feedback.
3,2,1 its bruschetta time my friends!!
Adrianne x
I needed to harvest the rest of the basil right before a cold snap and this was the perfect recipe! It tasted wonderful and I can't wait to make it again.
This is just the BEST. I love all the fresh flavors.