Inspired by Guy Grossi on Italian Food Safari, I made bruschetta for lunch today.
1. Place slices of day old sourdough onto a lined baking tray, and bake in the oven until crisp. Alternatively, toast the slices in a dry griddle pan, or in the toaster.
2. In the meantime, heat some oil in a frying pan and fry a chopped onion until soft, then add either fresh whole cherry tomatoes, or chopped Roma tomatoes (which is what I used). Season with a little salt, and stir over the heat until slightly softened (but not cooked down to a pulp).
3. Cut a garlic clove in half and rub it over the top of the hot bread slices. Scatter over a little chopped Italian parsley, then drizzle with extra virgin olive oil.
4. Top each slice with a spoonful of the tomato and onion mixture, and scatter over a little torn basil. Season with grated black pepper and serve immediately. A perfect Saturday lunch!
Here’s a clip from the first episode of Italian Food Safari, for those who don’t have access to Oz television – it was a great series, and well worth watching.
Fig Jam and Lime Cordial 
First giant zucchinis and then fresh basil.
I need a warmer climate. :(
Heidi, I’ll be saying the same thing to you in six months’ time. :)
Do grab a cup of tea and watch the video clip – it’s great viewing and will warm you in your cold weather!
I enjoyed much the same yesterday, but because we are just reaching spring, I used sundried tomatoes in olive oil, fresh basil (because I’ve planted some in my window box) and, because I taught a mozzarella making class yesterday, some fresh mozz.
Very satisfying lunch…I’d love to come over for YOURS and a cup of tea (oh, you know, OR a glass of wine)…
b
Sigh…there’s a nice idea. It would be lovely to have you closer by, Barb!
Food Safari is such a great show. Have you ever done one of Maeves’s Gourmet Food Safari Day’s? I always want to, but never seem to get round to it.
Bruscetta is one of those tasty little bundles that I always love.
Brydie, no, but I have seen them around. I believe they’re quite expensive…
WOW that is one huge zucchini :) And I do adore zucchini slice…yummmm…
I’m sure you have an impressive collection of them in your garden, Mrs B. :)
I have the Italian Food Safari cook book and I was just flipping through it on Friday night. Their recipes look amazing. So simple and fresh.
Claire, good to know the cookbook is worth checking out, thank you! I did enjoy the series enormously, so it’s nice that it’s being re-run now…
I have a craving for bruschetta now prompted by this post and also watching the film Julie and Julia again last night (the husband was munching down something that looked very similar). I’ve had a sour dough disaster so a baguette will have to do.
A sourdough disaster? Oh dear, that’s not good. Bruschetta on baguette would be delicious though.. :)
What an outstanding lunch Celia – I love the fresh flavours.
:-) Mandy
Mandy, thank you! Interesting how well it all went together – parsley, basil, garlic, tomatoes – delicious combination!
That garlic rub is what makes it so special. I have some basil olive oil that I put on my brusetta, yumm… What a fresh tasting meal you’ve made, lucky family!
I’m sure you’re right about the garlic, Becca. I actually had some lemon infused olive oil that I used on this batch – gave it all a lovely zing!
It is a fabulous series. I bought it on DVD last year and still haven’t viewed the two episodes I missed when it was first televised. Wasn’t the bread-making segment amazing. Was that a bath in which the dough was placed to rise? I think Maeve is just terrific as the lucky lady who gets to visit the places and sample all the marvellous morsels. I was disapponted with “Zumbo”. I thought it was a bit average as a cooking show, but Im sure the show had it’s fans.
Mariana, the bread making bit was one of my two favourite segments – the other being the family that pile food all over the top of the tablecloth and then eat from opposite corners into the middle.. :)
Watching that episode had my mouth watering. I love pasta vongole and I could almost smell the bread coming out of the oven. And finishing a meal with coffee and canoli…heaven!
Another simple idea with bruschetta…toast sourdough slices, rub with cut garlic first then fresh cut tomato so the juice flesh smeer generously on the slice of bread. Drizzle with good quality extra v olive oil. This is my favourite way to use up days old bread.
Linh Ly, great minds must think alike! That recipe – smearing a cut tomato half over a hot slice of bread – is in the new River Cottage cookbook I’ve been working through. I must try it, thank you! :)
I’m picturing how good this would be with some of my favourite tomatoes and bread just soaking up the tomato juice and oil-yum! :D
It was very nice – especially how all the flavours worked so well together. Cooking the tomatoes a little seemed to make a big difference!
I don’t mind the odd bruschetta. I always spill tomato on my shirt when I eat it – always.
Deb, you are too funny! So you’ll only ever eat bruschetta in a red shirt? :)
That looks delicious Celia – roll on the summer here for some decent tomatoes!
You’ve reminded me of a lunchtime snack my mum and I had in Florence – it was literally just chopped fresh tomatoes on toasted bread. It worked because we were relaxed on holiday and everything was happy, but your version – slightly warmed tomatoes and onion too, sounds even better. Mmmm, I can feel the warm Florence sun on my back right now….
Hmmm…Florence…I’m glad my little lunch post brought back such nice memories for you, C! :)
Oh YUM Celia, I haven’t had a great Bruschetta for years. There is something about the gorgeous flavour combo that brings me back to a little cafe my family and I used to visit every Sunday, the chef would bring in tomatoes and fresh basil from his gardens. Mmmmmm… Great recipe! Im going to make this weekend. Thanks lovely!
Anna, I hope you find some wonderful tomatoes and fresh basil! It’s such a simple combination, but just so delicious!
I was watching also… I didn’t get a chance to make it on the weekend, but, did get to Haberfield for coffee & canoli. Just delicious!
Oooh, Suz, the cannoli is to die for! :)
thank you :) for the constant ray of sunshine which breaks up my gloomy work day.
For just a moment I get to leave my problems behind and go to another warmer friendly and happier place…
Casa de la bella Celia
Thanks Moo…I hope it all settles down soon, love! Talk soon.. xxx
What a neat show. I watched both parts – loved the homemade bread – all those loaves(!!!) …. and the cannoli (my favorite). Your bruschetta looks lovely.
Sasha, thank you – and can you believe they eat that many loaves every two weeks!? Do check out YouTube, I think there are a couple more episodes on there – it really is a great show!
I love Bruschetta and Food Safari! Such a simple and flavourful dish to make.
Susan, such a great series, wasn’t it? I liked the original Food Safari, but I think the Italian one was even better!
They bruschettas look wonderful – and the topping is one of the simple and finer pleasures of life.