A tasty Italian appetizer topped with heirloom tomatoes, yummy basil and feta cheese.
Have you ever seen the movie, Julie and Julia? What a classic film! I’ve seen it like a dozen times! When it came out in ’09, I was mesmerized by the bruschetta (pronounced bru’sketta) that Julie made for her hubby, Eric. It was so beautifully done! In fact, it was just downright mouthwatering! I just had to recreate it.
The buttery grilled bread topped with juicy, marinated heirloom tomatoes along with fresh basil! Just divine and so incredibly easy to make. Some people (hubby) would call this an appetizer. I, on the other hand, call it a full meal. Maybe because I literally consumed two helpings of it in just one sitting. I just couldn’t stop until they were G-O-N-E!! If I’m being completely honest, it was just likely due to my ravenous hunger after Sunday church service. 🙂 Nonetheless, the entire family enjoyed the garlicky (grilled) bread, which is exactly what bruschetta means in Italian, grilled. Ok, well technically, it means “roasted over coals” but “ain’t nobody got time for that” as hungry as I was! 🙂 I simply grilled them with butter on top of the 19th century stove! Ahhhh, what a convenience they must have thought back then. All of that manual labor for this delicious dish to be gobbled up in a hot flash! I was definitely born at the right time, guys! 🙂
Start by slicing the heirloom tomatoes into quarters to create bite sized pieces. Then chop your basil into beautiful ribbons and add balsamic vinegar, olive oil, kosher salt and pepper. Allow the flavors to meld for at least 15 minutes while you grill the bread.
So back to this buttery, garlicky, delicious bread! Melt a couple tablespoons of butter in a skillet and grill the bread on both sides until golden and gorgeously browned. After removing from the skillet, immediately brush the bread on both sides with the cut side of a whole garlic clove. It will just melt right into the hot, grilled bread! Yum! Can you smell that????? Now top each slice with the marinated tomato mixture and garnish with feta cheese. Ok, ok I just had to add a classic Greek ingredient with this classic Italian dish! It just works!! Go with it! Until next time…Say Grace, my friends and enjoy!! 🙂
Easy Heirloom Tomato Bruschetta
Ingredients
- 1.5 pints 20 oz. gourmet heirloom tomatoes, cherry and/or grape sized
- 12 fresh basil leaves (chiffonered...is this a word) (anyway, cut into ribbons)
- 2 tsp. balsamic vinegar
- 2 T. olive oil
- kosher salt to taste
- coarse pepper to taste
- 8 oz. Italian loaf about 8 slices
- 2 large garlic cloves cut in half
- 1/2 stick butter for grilling,
- 1/4 c. Feta garnish
Instructions
- Slice the tomatoes into quarters to create bite sized pieces.
- Add basil, balsamic vinegar, olive oil, salt and kosher pepper. Mix well. Allow the flavors to meld for at least 15 minutes while you grill the bread.
- Melt a few tablespoons of butter in a skillet and grill the bread on both sides until golden and gorgeously browned. Grill in batches if necessary.
- Remove from the skillet and immediately brush the bread on both sides with the cut side of a whole garlic clove.
- Top each slice with the marinated tomato mixture and garnish with feta cheese. Say Grace and enjoy!!
I do the same with caramelized mushrooms as an appetizer in many gatherings! Got to try with heirloom tomatoes 🙂
Sounds yummy Tasneem! On my list!! Thanks for stopping by!
I can almost taste the juicy sweet tomatoes and crumbly salty feta! Yum!
How fitting Julia!! I’m almost embarrassed to admit how many of these made it into my belly!!
Yep! You’re gonna love ’em! The best part is that it’s super simple!!
I have more heirlooms than I know what to do with right now, so this is perfect. The butter also totally has me sold!
Perfecto! Wonderful!! Enjoy!! 🙂
You had me at butter!! Lol! Thanks for stopping by Rachel!!
This looks delicious! I have so many gorgeous cherry tomatoes in my garden right now. What better way to serve them but on crusty bread! Perfect!
You got that exactly right, Jenn! Thanks for stopping by!!
This looks so delicious and so perfect for all the fresh tomatoes and basil right now! My husband would also call this an appetizer- unless it’s covered in meat it doesn’t count as a meal 😉
Thanks Jay! Yep! They’re a lot alike then!! 🙂
I wait all year for heirloom season!! And you’ve put these beauties in the perfect recipe. Bruschetta is one of our favorites. And I love that movie too!
Hi Kim! Such a great movie, right? It always makes me ravenous!! 🙂
Love those little grape size tomatoes, so sweet and with the feta crumbles, this is a winner!
Thanks Kevin! The feta gives that extra “umpf”, if you will! Love it!!
I have visions of making this with some gluten free bread.
Awesome idea! Sounds like a winner!!
These sound so good! The sweet tomatoes and the feta…. YUM!
Thanks Chris! It’s the best!!
You had me at Heirloom! They are simply delicious and it’s almost impossible to say no to bruschetta! Looks devine!
“You had me at Heirloom!” Ha Ha! I love it! Thanks for stopping by! 🙂
This looks delicious! I will have to beg my neighbor for more fresh basil to try this one out. I love feta cheese on everything right now.
Thanks Holly! Yep! Feta is everything!! Enjoy!! 🙂
Yum! So easy, and I can imagine it is absolutely delicious! I have to watch that movie again 🙂
I tend to watch it every time it comes on cable!! 🙂
Tomatoes are my favorite! I can eat them every day in the summer! This bruschetta looks fantastic!
Me too! They’re the best!! Thanks for stopping by!
mmmm .. Bruschetta is a major weakness for me!! I love that you use heirloom tomatoes.. i seem to always go for the cherry tomatoes but i will definitely try yours out!
Hi Heather! Yep, so sweet and tasty! Enjoy!! 🙂