Easy Caprese Bruschetta Recipe
Caprese Bruschetta is a simple yet flavorful appetizer combining juicy tomatoes, creamy mozzarella, fresh basil, and a tangy balsamic glaze over crispy toasted baguette slices. This easy recipe is perfect for gatherings, and the topping can be made ahead of time to let the flavors meld beautifully.
Equipment
- Rimmed baking sheet
- Colander
Ingredients
For the Toasts:
- 1 baguette cut diagonally into ½-inch slices (about 25 slices)
- 3–4 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
For the Caprese Bruschetta Topping:
- 6 Roma tomatoes about 1½ pounds, cored and diced
- ½ teaspoon fine sea salt plus more to taste
- 8 ounces fresh mozzarella cheese diced
- ⅓ cup fresh basil leaves chopped
- 5 garlic cloves minced
- 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
- 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
- ¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
For Serving:
- Balsamic glaze store-bought or homemade
Instructions
Prepare the Toasts:
- Preheat the oven to 400°F and position a rack in the middle.
- Lay the baguette slices on a rimmed baking sheet and coat both sides with olive oil. Bake for 7–9 minutes, flipping halfway through, until the edges are crispy but the center retains some softness.
Prepare the Bruschetta Topping:
- Place the diced tomatoes in a colander over the sink and sprinkle them with a pinch of salt. Let them sit for a few minutes to drain any excess juice while you prepare the remaining ingredients.
- In a large bowl, combine the drained tomatoes, diced mozzarella, chopped basil, minced garlic, olive oil, balsamic vinegar, ½ teaspoon sea salt, and black pepper. Stir gently to combine, and adjust the salt if needed, especially if skipping the balsamic glaze.
Assemble and Serve:
- Transfer the bruschetta topping to a serving dish and serve alongside the toasted baguette slices. Drizzle the balsamic glaze over the topping just before serving, or let guests assemble their bruschetta as they prefer.
Notes
- Salting Tomatoes: Salting the tomatoes in advance helps tenderize them and removes excess liquid, preventing soggy toast.
- Chopping Basil: To preserve basil's delicate texture, stack leaves, roll them into a tight log, and slice thinly into ribbons.
- Make the topping a few hours ahead to let the flavors meld; store in the refrigerator until ready to serve.
- Leftover topping can be enjoyed on toast the next day for a quick snack or breakfast.
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!