Sun Dried Tomato Bruschetta

Sundried tomato bruschetta is a stunning yet simple appetizer, where each baguette has a pop of tangy-sweet tomato flavor and the presentation is gorgeous!

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Sundried tomato bruschetta on a white serving tray.

Sundried tomato bruschetta is such an easy appetizer to make for game nights, but elegant enough to serve at a holiday party. We are using simple ingredients, fresh and vibrant sun-dried tomatoes that are married to bold flavors from the balsamic vinegar, garlic, and fresh herbs, all sitting on top of little crispy toasts.

Sundried tomato bruschetta next to fresh tomatoes.

Not only is this one of my favorite appetizers to make, I love being able to use up our fresh summer tomatoes. While we use Roma or San Marzano tomatoes to make sundried tomatoes, sauce, or this homemade tomato bisque, for this bruschetta, we love tossing in a variety of tomatoes fresh from the garden. This gives subtly different flavors and their gorgeous color adds to the beauty of the serving plate. If you’re purchasing tomatoes for the bruschetta, I’d recommend a hearty tomato like Roma.

Have leftover sun dried tomatoes? Add them to Italian sausage pasta, Cheesecake Factory Avocado Egg Rolls, or Creamy Chicken Pasta with Sun-dried Tomatoes.

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🍅 Ingredients:
Substitutions and Variations
🔪 Instructions:
Recipe Tips for Sun-Dried Tomato Bruschetta
Fun Fact
Recipe FAQs
Other Amazing Appetizer Recipes
Sundried Tomato Bruschetta

🍅 Ingredients:

chopped tomatoes – use a variety of colors for better presentation, include some hearty tomatoes for some density to the tomato mixture.
herb-marinated, oil-packed sun-dried tomatoes – homemade or jarred from the grocery store work great
balsamic vinegar
olive oil
garlic cloves – minced.
fresh basil
baguette – any thicker bread will work. Sometimes the grocery store also sells a sack of pre-sliced baguette and these work great, too, and are a time saver.

For a full list of ingredients and their measurements, 📋 please view my printable recipe card at the bottom of the post.

Optional Garnish:

Garnish balsamic bruschetta with fresh herbs or cheese.

Substitutions and Variations

Cheese: some like to smear a layer of cream cheese or ricotta cheese on the toasted baguette slices before adding the tomato mixture. You could also sprinkle parmesan or feta cheese on top, even though traditional bruschetta doesn’t call for this.
Fresh herbs: feel free to add your favorites like fresh oregano and thyme.
Spicy: sprinkle some red pepper flakes in.
Other serving ideas: This is the perfect topping to serve with pita chips, tortilla chips, over grilled chicken or fish, as a colorful condiment on a cheese board, or in a salad.

🔪 Instructions:

PREP: Dice the tomatoes into small pieces that are ¼″ to ½″ inch thick.

Bruschetta topping ingredients in a large glass mixing bowl.

Step 1: In a large bowl, combine the fresh and sundried tomatoes, extra virgin olive oil, balsamic vinegar, garlic, and basil. Cover and refrigerate for at least a couple of hours.

Sliced baguette loaf on a cutting board next to other ingredients.

Step 2: When ready to serve, slice the baguette diagonally and arrange the bread slices on a baking sheet in single layer.

Brushing the bread slices with oil before baking.

Step 3: Brush both sides of the baguette slices with oil and bake for 5 minutes at 350 degrees F.

Toasted baguette slices on a baking sheet.

Step 4: Flip the bread over, and bake for another 5 minutes. In Italy, my favorite bruschettas were those where they rubbed a cut garlic clove over the toasted bread before adding the tomatoes, so definitely give that a try, too!

Pro Tip: To save a couple of minutes, you can also broil the bread slices, just keep an eye on them so they don’t burn.

Sundried tomato bruschetta on a white serving platter next to bread slices.

Step 5: Assemble the bruschetta.

SERVE: Spoon the marinated tomatoes onto each of the crusty baguette slices for the perfect appetizer; pair with your favorite wine to make it even better!

The Sundried tomato bruschetta topping in a glass mixing bowl.

Recipe Tips for Sun-Dried Tomato Bruschetta

Any crusty bread will work for this recipe.
We spoon the topping over the bread as we are eating, this keeps the bread slices from getting soggy. You can also spoon out the individual pieces and set on a platter for immediate serving.
The longer the mixture marinates in the fridge, the better the flavor. If you are short on time, you can serve it immediately.
Consider rubbing a freshly cut garlic clove over the toasted bread before adding the tomato topping for some extra flavor.

Fun Fact

It was an Italian tradition in ancient times when olive growers in Italy would toast bread to sample their freshly pressed oil. The name “bruschetta” comes from the Roman dialect verb “bruscare,” meaning ‘to roast over coals’. This refers to the traditional method of preparing the bread by toasting it over a fire, which gives the dish its distinctive charred flavor.

Picking up a piece of Sundried tomato bruschetta from the serving tray.

Recipe FAQs

What is Bruschetta?

Bruschetta is a classic Italian appetizer that traditionally consists of grilled bread rubbed with garlic and topped with olive oil, salt, and fresh tomatoes. The dish is often made with various toppings such as basil, fresh mozzarella cheese, vegetables, beans, cured meats, or other cheese. The key to authentic bruschetta lies in the quality of its ingredients, especially the use of ripe, flavorful tomatoes and high-quality olive oil.

How long does sun dried tomato bruschetta last?

We recommend serving the bruschetta immediately after making, however, my favorite way to make it ahead of time is to store the topping and bread separately in airtight containers for up to 4 days.

What are sundried tomatoes?

Sundried tomatoes are ripe tomatoes that have been dried out in the sun or through the use of dehydrators or ovens. This process removes most of the water content from the tomatoes, leaving them with a more concentrated tomato flavor that’s both sweet and tart. As they dry, their color deepens to a rich, dark red, they then turn to a chewy texture. Sundried tomatoes are a bold gourmet ingredient commonly used in Mediterranean and Italian cuisines, adding depth and flavor to pasta sauces, salads, pizzas, and spreads. You can make your own sun-dried tomatoes and store in herb-infused olive oil.

Other Amazing Appetizer Recipes

If you tried this Sun Dried Tomato Bruschetta Recipe or any other recipe on my website, please leave a 🌟 star rating and let me know how you liked it in the 📝 comments below.

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Created by: Stefanie