--- title: "Bruschetta: what it means in cooking — Tiny Plates" description: "Bruschetta is grilled bread rubbed with garlic, drizzled with olive oil and often topped with tomato. See how to make it crisp, not soggy." url: "https://www.tinyplates.dev/glossary/bruschetta" --- # Bruschetta Bruschetta is grilled bread rubbed with garlic, drizzled with olive oil and often topped with tomato. See how to make it crisp, not soggy. Also called Bruschette. Bruschetta is a thick slice of rustic bread, [grilled](https://www.tinyplates.dev/glossary/grill) or toasted, rubbed with raw garlic and drizzled with olive oil. In Italy that alone counts as bruschetta. The best-known version adds a topping of chopped tomato, basil, salt and oil. It is said "broo-SKET-ta". ## How to do it 1. Cut a firm country loaf into slices about 1.5 cm (½ inch) thick. Day-old bread works well. 2. Grill or [toast](https://www.tinyplates.dev/glossary/toast) the slices over high heat until both sides are crisp with dark marks, 1 to 2 minutes per side. 3. While the bread is hot, rub one side with a cut clove of garlic. The rough surface grates it like a file. 4. Drizzle with good olive oil and sprinkle with salt. 5. For the tomato topping, dice ripe tomatoes, mix with torn basil, salt and olive oil, and let it sit 10 minutes. Drain off extra juice before spooning it on. 6. Top just before serving. ## How to tell it is done The bread is crunchy on the outside but still a little soft in the middle. The edges are dark brown in spots but not burned through. ## Common mistakes * Using soft sandwich bread. It goes limp under the topping. * Topping it too early. The juice soaks in and the toast turns soggy within minutes. * Using cold, pale tomatoes. The dish has few ingredients, so each one shows. * Skipping salt on the tomatoes. They taste flat without it. ## In recipes "Bruschetta" on a menu often means the tomato topping alone, sold in jars or spooned onto any toast. In a recipe it usually means the whole thing: bread plus topping. Other toppings include white beans, mushrooms, or chopped greens. It is served as part of an [antipasto](https://www.tinyplates.dev/glossary/antipasto) or as a snack. [Crostini](https://www.tinyplates.dev/glossary/crostini) are similar, but they are smaller, thinner, and made from a narrow loaf, so they hold up for a party. ## Where it comes from Bruschetta comes from central Italy, where olive growers toasted bread to taste fresh oil after the harvest. ## Bruschetta recipes 6 recipes from the sites we collect. * [![](https://www.skinnytaste.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/TwoTomatoBruschetta.jpg)Two Tomato Bruschettawww.skinnytaste.com · 20 min](https://www.skinnytaste.com/two-tomato-bruschetta/) * [![](https://www.onceuponachef.com/images/2019/07/Bruschetta.jpg)Bruschettawww.onceuponachef.com · 30 min](https://www.onceuponachef.com/recipes/bruschetta.html) * [![](https://www.skinnytaste.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/grilled-salmon-with-avocado-bruschetta-1-4.jpg)Grilled Salmon Bruschetta with Avocadowww.skinnytaste.com · 20 min](https://www.skinnytaste.com/grilled-salmon-with-avocado-bruschetta/) * [![](https://www.skinnytaste.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/Sun-Dried-Tomato-Cheese-Chicken-Rollatini-1.jpg)Chicken Rollatini with Sun Dried Tomato Bruschetta, Mozzarella and Spinachwww.skinnytaste.com · 35 min](https://www.skinnytaste.com/sun-dried-tomato-and-cheese-stuffed-chicken-rollatini/) * [![](https://www.skinnytaste.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Bruschetta-Pasta-Salad-8.jpg)Bruschetta Pasta Saladwww.skinnytaste.com · 25 min](https://www.skinnytaste.com/bruschetta-pasta-salad/) * [![](https://pinchofyum.com/tachyon/Bruschetta-Chicken-Salad-Recipe.jpg?fit=225%2C225)Healthy Garlic Herb Chicken Saladpinchofyum.com · 35 min](https://pinchofyum.com/healthy-chicken-salad) ## Related terms * [CrostiniCrostini are small, thin slices of toasted bread brushed with oil and topped for a party snack. See how to bake them crisp and keep them crunchy.](https://www.tinyplates.dev/glossary/crostini) * [AntipastoAntipasto is the Italian opening course of cured meats, cheese, pickled vegetables and bread. See what goes on the platter and how to build one.](https://www.tinyplates.dev/glossary/antipasto) * [GrillGrilling cooks food on a grate over direct, high heat from charcoal, gas or wood. It gives a browned, smoky crust and those dark stripes in minutes.](https://www.tinyplates.dev/glossary/grill) * [ToastTo toast is to brown food with dry heat until it turns golden and smells nutty. Bread, nuts, seeds, spices and coconut all gain flavor from toasting.](https://www.tinyplates.dev/glossary/toast) * [CanapéA canapé is a small bite on a base of bread, cracker or pastry, served with drinks before dinner. Get ideas, timings and how much to make.](https://www.tinyplates.dev/glossary/canape) [More in dishes](https://www.tinyplates.dev/glossary/category/dishes)[Every term from A to Z](https://www.tinyplates.dev/glossary)