Dazzle your dinner guests* with this crusty, tomatoey, garlicky appetizer or side.
Ingredients
- 1 loaf of French bread (I used gluten-free Udi brand)
- 1 large tomato OR 8 plum/Roma tomatoes OR a cup of cherry tomatoes
- 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese
- 3 cloves minced garlic
- 1 Tablespoon balsamic vinegar
- Salt and pepper
- Chopped fresh basil (about 1/2 cup)
Preparing & Cooking
- Slice the French bread lengthwise and bake until crusty. Slice into pieces several inches long.
- Seed tomatoes and chop into small pieces.
- Mix cheese, garlic, vinegar, salt, pepper and basil with the tomatoes. If you are not serving immediately, leave the basil out. Add just prior to serving, or use to top the bread. Otherwise, it will wilt.
Serving
Spoon the tomato mixture over the warm bread -- top with basil, if not mixed into the tomatoes.
A Little Backstory:
I started on a quest to find an accompaniment to crabcakes. French fries, many suggested. Hmm, no. I wanted something hearty -- but more healthy. No potatoes. Rice seemed boring. Tomatoes on bread is an amazing, summery side.
"I would've just bought a container of bruschetta topping," Brian said. Yeah, at one point I would've, too. But why, when this is so easy? And if you want to really hit it out of the park, grow your own tomatoes and basil.
*It's not really about impressing dinner guests. It's about making delicious, healthy, wonderful dishes with love and pride. And to share that with someone? Well that's just damn perfect.
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