Vegan Bruschetta Recipe: How to Make Tomato Bruschetta

Vegan bruschetta is a meatless and dairy-free Italian antipasto (appetizer). Home cooks originally created bruschetta to salvage stale bread and showcase the flavors of their olive oil. In Italy, bruschetta refers to the grilled slice of bread, which chefs rub with garlic and olive oil, rather than the topping itself. Tomato and basil are common bruschetta toppings, as well as beans and marinated artichokes.

Outside of Italy, bruschetta with tomato and basil (or tomato bruschetta) is a good dish to make when tomatoes are in season. Recipes might feature a simple, harmonious blend of juicy, sweet, diced tomatoes with torn basil leaves, grassy olive oil, and a subtle kick of garlicky heat. Some bruschetta recipes include olive tapenade, balsamic vinegar, or vegan pesto.

Follow these tips to make an easy vegan bruschetta:

1. 1. Add more vegetables. Combine grilled eggplant, red onion, and peppers to add body and flavor to your bruschetta. Another twist is to add whipped vegan ricotta cheese as a base for the vegetable topping. Try bruschetta with capers, kalamata olives, red wine vinegar, red pepper flakes, dried oregano, and a touch of sugar for a salty twist.
2. 2. Slice the bread on a bias. Toasted bread that you’ve cut on the diagonal is much easier to eat than straight-cut slices of bread. Since vegan bruschetta is a handheld appetizer, biting directly into it is more common than using a fork and knife.
3. 3. Use smaller varieties of tomatoes. Large tomato varieties have more seeds and skin than small tomatoes. Use grape or cherry tomatoes for a juicy bruschetta with more variety in textures. Cut the tomatoes in half or quarters, depending on their size.

Bruschetta is a popular appetizer, but you can also incorporate it into the main dish. Consider the following ways to serve vegan bruschetta:

1. 1. As an appetizer: You can serve bruschetta as an appetizer on smaller pieces of bread so that you and your guests can eat it by hand.
2. 2. As a main dish: Spoon bruschetta toppings onto larger pieces of good-quality French bread, sourdough, or rustic Italian bread for a more substantial main dish. Toppings can include vegetables like grilled eggplant or cauliflower to make this a filling entrée. You can also add vegan cheese.
3. 3. As a side dish: Serve bruschetta alongside a vegan main dish for a well-rounded meal.