True Taste of Italy

Bruschetta con Pomodoro (Bruschetta with Tomatoes) is a simple yet delicious way to get any dinner gathering started.  This dish will be a true hit among all your family and friends. Bruschetta con Pomodoro’s secret is garlic. Garlic was considered a sacred herb of the Ancient Egyptians. Greek Olympian athletes used to chew garlic. Even today it is considered good for healthy hearts. We love how garlic brings out the flavors of a dish. It’s bold yet sweet flavor is essential to many of our recipes. We always recommend using fresh garlic, but if that’s not possible, a jar of minced garlic will also do the trick. When shopping for garlic make sure you select only bulbs that are firm and do not have sprouts.

However, unlike the garlic, only fresh basil will do here.  There is just no comparison between the aroma and flavor found in fresh basil.  Dried basil may work for soups or other dishes, but it just doesn’t do this recipe justice.  The fresh basil will really enhance the fresh tomatoes, garlic, and olive oil mixture.

Ingredients for Bruschetta con Pomodoro:

• 8-10 slices of crusty Italian bread
• 2 fresh garlic cloves, peeled
• 5  Roma tomatoes, chopped
• 4-5 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil
• 8-10 fresh basil leaves

Directions for Bruschetta con Pomodoro:

• Preheat oven to 400° F.
• Cut bread into 1/2 inch slices and put on baking sheet. Place in oven to toast.
• Rub garlic cloves on toasted bread slices.
• In a small bowl, add chopped tomatoes, olive oil, basil and salt and pepper to taste. Stir to mix well.
• Place about 1 tablespoon of the tomato mixture on each bread slice.

This recipe for Bruschetta con Pomodoro will serve approximately 4 to 6 people.