Enjoying an afternoon wine tasting with a plate of bruschette is the perfect way to relax after a day of cycling in Tuscany. But what exactly is bruschetta – it seems to take on many forms here in Tuscany – and how do I impress my friends back home with an authentic and delicious version?
Let’s begin with saying it correctly – it is pronounced BRU-sketta, note the “ch” is pronounced as “k” in Italian. The name bruschetta comes from the Roman dialect verb bruscare, meaning ‘to roast over coals’. This is an ancient dish, dating back to the Etruscan age. Then, this referred to a simple dish of grilled bread – best day old, a bit stale – either grilled or baked in an oven, rubbed with garlic and drizzled with olive oil. According to Marcella Hazan, the dish most likely originated in ancient Rome, when olive growers bringing their olives to the local press would toast slices of bread to sample their fresh-pressed oil. In Tuscany, renowned for its olive oil, the olive farmers believe that the oil should be very young and recently pressed and that bruschetta is best accompanied by a glass of wine. As an old Italian proverb goes, “Day-old bread, month-old oil, and year-old wine”. 
Today, the term bruschetta often refers to an antipasti that consists of this basic grilled bread served with just about any topping you can imagine. All over Italy you will see an enormous variety of options – with meats like prosciutto crudo, chicken livers, fresh sausage or lard; versions served with zucchini, eggplant, mushrooms, bell peppers and many different kids of cheeses. Probably the most common version is the bruschetta al pomodoro, topped with tomatoes, basil, and more olive oil.
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Secrets Behind a Great Bruschetta
- Yield: 8 servings 1x
Description
There aren’t many secrets behind a great Bruschetta. All you need are fresh, seasonal ingredients and the right wine to go alongside. Try it!
Ingredients
- 2 large or 3-4 medium (fresh, local, amazing tomatoes, diced small)
- Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
- 1/4 cup fresh basil leaves (sliced into ribbons)
- 8 slices of a great bread (sliced about 1/2” thick)
- 1 – 2 cloves fresh garlic
- High quality fresh extra-virgin olive oil
Instructions
- Place the tomatoes in a colander over a plate to catch the juices. Season with salt and pepper, and half of the basil. Let sit at room temperature while you toast the bread.
- Toast the bread in a 350° oven directly on the rack until golden brown, about 5 minutes. Or grill. You want nicely browned grill lines, but still a softer interior – best to soak up juicy tomatoes.
- Remove from oven, and rub each slice all over with a garlic clove. Brush each slice with olive oil. Place the bread slices on a serving plate, top the bread with tomatoes, garnish with remaining basil and drizzle with extra-virgin olive oil right before serving.
- Category: Antipasto
Finally someone who tackles the pronouncing issue. I couldn’t really find the secrets though – but we all love bruschetta!
Vivian, thanks for reading! The ‘secrets’ were edited out when my blog article was republished here – great ingredients, top with seasonal ingredients – alas, no tomato bruschetta in December – and serve with a great Tuscan wine. Which in my experience makes everything better. The original article is here http://www.chefbikeski.com/?p=4227