Not too heavy, but still super flavorful, these tomato bruschetta bites are a great appetizer, full of fresh pesto flavor and paired easily with a glass of wine.
Temperatures have dropped, there are twinkle lights on all the trees outside, everyone has a wreath on their door, peppermint-flavored things have started showing up on menus, and my Instagram feed has exploded with pictures of Christmas trees/gingerbread everything/sparkly ornaments/babies crying in Santa’s lap.
Normally, all these things give me mild to moderate anxiety – mostly because it means that holiday season is upon us and I’ve waited until the last minute to get everything done and there is just SO MUCH TO DO (e.g., holiday cooking/blogging, travel arranging, Christmas gift shopping).
But this year? I am as calm as a cucumber, cool as ice, totally un-flapped, 100% stress-free: Christmas gifts have all been purchased, we’re not traveling far for the holidays, I’ve decided that the world isn’t going to end if I don’t post a billion holiday-themed recipes, and the only thing I’ve been tasked with making for my parents’ annual Christmas parties is thumbprint cookies. This feeling? It’s great.
If you’re not feeling quite as zen and responsibility-free as me about the holidays, and you’ve still got things to do (like party menu planning, for example), can I help?
Not only do I have many easy holiday recipes in my blog archives, but I’ve also got a simple, low-fuss and delicious appetizer that is sure to be a hit at parties: tomato & pesto bruschetta bites. These bite-sized morsels can be made in less than 30 minutes with the most basic of ingredients, and are a treat for both the eyes (look at those festive colors!) and the tongue.
And, they go great with another holiday party staple: wine.
If you follow me on Instagram you’ll know that Dan and I went to Italy with my parents for a whirlwind week-long vacation in September (Rome -> Florence -> Vernazza -> Venice).
Of the four places we visited, Vernazza was by far my favorite. Even though it’s very popular with day-tripping tourists, the little town felt the most relaxed and home-y to me. It’s the kind of place you want to go when you want to take a deep breath, unplug from everything, rip up your day planner, and see where the day takes you.
The Cinque Terre region, where Vernazza is located, is known for its gorgeous views of the Mediterranean, amazing hiking trails and national parks, fresh seafood, fruity white wine, focaccia, anchovies, and pesto, most of which can be (and we definitely did) enjoyed at the same time.
Everything we ate in Vernazza was delicious, but I quickly became OBSESSED with the pesto. I ate it for almost every meal while we were there, usually in the form of bruschetta: slathered on thick slices of Italian bread dripping with olive oil and topped with chopped tomatoes, sometimes with mozzarella or anchovies as well. The combination of crunchy/chewy bread, salty/garlicky pesto, and juicy, ripe tomatoes (washed down with many glasses of chilled white wine) was so delightfully addictive and I couldn’t get enough of it.
In fact, since we got back from our trip a few months ago, I’ve made pesto and recreated this bruschetta at least give times. I think Dan is maybe starting to get tired of it, but I’m still going strong. It is truly amazing stuff, you guys. So so simple, yet unbelievably delicious.
These are a great pre-dinner snack/appetizer: the flavors are a hit with just about everyone, the pieces are nice and portable so people could grab and eat them between meal prep and cooking duties, and each bite is just the right size to whet appetites but not spoil them.
For another easy holiday appetizer, try these lamb bites. Recipe here.