Italian Bruschetta with Tomatoes and Olives

The history of Italian Bruschetta…

This Italian Bruschetta with tomatoes and olives is usually served as a starter and is remarkably simple to make.

In other words is made of a toasted slice of bread, rubbed with fresh garlic while still warm. Drizzle with olive oil and season with salt and pepper. The dish was developed as a way of saving stale bread. Bruschetta originated in Italy during 15th Century. However the dish can be traced back to ancient Rome. The olive growers would bring their olives to a local olive press and taste a sample of their freshly pressed oil with a slice of bread.

Why Italian Bruschetta is such a popular recipe?

Like so many dishes from Italy, bruschetta originated in la cucina povera. Consequently Italy’s peasant class dictated that nothing edible will ever be thrown away. As a result the stale bread is mostly used to make Bruscheta. Finally, the beauty of a Bruscheta is all about of its simplicity. There is no way to make a good Italian Bruschetta from bad ingredients.

Bruschetta is a tasty eating experience on its own. However there are many delicious toppings which can be served with it to enhance the flavors and the presentation. Even if designed as a starter, bruschetta also makes a delicious side dish to many salads, soups or main courses. There are limitless possibilities to make a bruschetta. But whenever you’ll want to make bruschetta just remember these five steps: Heat, Toast, Rub, Brush, Top

This is a perfect recipe for summer time when the tomatoes in your garden are ripped and juicy. All the ingredients are fresh and they actually have taste, unlike the supermarket ones. However when fresh ingredients aren’t available turn to the canned isle and use good quality chopped tomatoes. The extra juices will make a tasty bruschetta almost similar to a pizzeta.

Its important that you don’t refrigerate the tomatoes you plan to use, because they become less flavorful and tomato-y. We leave them out at room temperature as they taste so much better this way

If this Italian Bruschetta recipe makes it to your table please post a picture on Instagram, tag @freshly_vegans with the hashtag #foodfv. We would love to see how it turned out for you.

Happy cooking!

You will never be happy if you continue to search for what happiness consists of. You will never live if you are looking for the meaning of life.

ALBERT CAMUS