Easy Vegan Bruschetta Recipe - Running on Real Food (2024)

Home » Recipes » Appetizers » Easy Vegan Bruschetta

posted: 11/20/19 — updated: 12/07/21 by Deryn Macey Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links.

Jump to Recipe·5 from 2 reviews

This easy vegan bruschetta features a simple but classic combination of fresh tomatoes, balsamic, olive oil and basil for the perfect Italian-inspired appetizer.

Easy Vegan Bruschetta Recipe - Running on Real Food (1)

This vegan bruschetta recipe is flavourful, delicious and perfect for entertaining. It’s easy to make and can be put together in minutes if you skip the marinating. If you have time, let the topping sit for an hour so the flavours can really blend together.

Table of Contents

Ingredients Notes

Here’s what you’ll need to make this bruschetta recipe:

  1. Roma tomatoes. Look for firm roma tomatoes that are on the larger side. You’ll need about 2.5-3 cups diced so if the tomatoes are quite small, you may need more than 3. If you can’t find roma tomatoes, any kind will work just fine, just make sure they aren’t overly ripe.
  2. Basil. Fresh basil is key in this recipe. I used 8 large leaves or about 3-4 tbsp chopped. If you really love basil, go ahead and add a bit more. I like to reserve some for sprinkling on top as well.
  3. Balsamic vinegar. Balsamic vinegar is also a must. It adds that tanginess you expect in bruschetta.
  4. Olive oil. Oil and vinegar is what bruschetta is all about. Use a good quality extra-virgin olive oil here.
  5. Green onion. A little chopped fresh green onion livens things up a little! Red onion works here too.
  6. Nutritional yeast or vegan parmesan. Classic bruschetta typically contains parmesan cheese. We’ll use a little nutritional yeast as a stand in. If you have a vegan parmesan you love, you can also use that. You can also make vegan parmesan to sprinkle on top.
  7. Oregano, salt and pepper. Finally, a little oregano, salt and pepper to add that last touch of seasoning.
Easy Vegan Bruschetta Recipe - Running on Real Food (2)

How to Make Vegan Bruschetta

Making vegan bruschetta is as easy as chopping the tomatoes, mixing up the topping and toasting the bread. After you’ve done that, simply spoon the mixture onto the toasted baguette and serve!

Let’s go over just a couple tips and points to consider:

  1. Remove the juiciest bits of the tomato. As you can see in the photo below, I scraped out the juiciest bits of the tomato, which contain most of the seeds. You don’t have to get every last bit out but it does prevent the mixture from getting too wet.
  2. Marinate the bruschetta topping. For the most flavourful topping, it helps to marinate the tomato mixture for an hour or so. While this isn’t totally necessary, it does allow the different flavours time to blend together.
  3. Toast the bread. Toasting the sliced baguette is optional but I do prefer it lightly toasted. 5-10 minutes at 350 degrees F should do the trick. I don’t use any oil or butter when toasting but for a special treat, you can brush the sliced bread with olive oil before toasting.
  4. Additional toppings. I like to add a tiny drizzle of balsamic or balsamic reduction I’m ready to serve. Another little sprinkle of finely chopped fresh basil and some black pepper is nice for serving too.
Easy Vegan Bruschetta Recipe - Running on Real Food (3)
Easy Vegan Bruschetta Recipe - Running on Real Food (4)
Easy Vegan Bruschetta Recipe - Running on Real Food (5)
Easy Vegan Bruschetta Recipe - Running on Real Food (6)
Easy Vegan Bruschetta Recipe - Running on Real Food (7)
Easy Vegan Bruschetta Recipe - Running on Real Food (8)

More Vegan Sides and Appies

  • Butternut Squash Bruschetta
  • Roasted Red Pepper Hummus
  • Roasted Garlic Hummus
  • Maple Dijon Roasted Brussel Sprouts
  • Vegan Buffalo Dip
  • Vegan Spinach Artichoke Dip
  • Vegan Jalapeño Poppers

Did you try this recipe? I’d love to hear about it! Scroll down to the comment section to leave a star rating and review.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Print

Easy Vegan Bruschetta Recipe - Running on Real Food (9)

Easy Vegan Bruschetta

5 Stars4 Stars3 Stars2 Stars1 Star5 from 2 reviews

  • Author: Deryn Macey
  • Prep Time: 10 mins
  • Total Time: 10 minutes
  • Yield: 20 baguettes
  • Category: Appetizer
  • Cuisine: Italian
  • Diet: Vegan
Print Recipe

Save Recipe

Description

Simple and delicious vegan bruschetta that’s perfect for a special dinner at home or holiday entertaining. This recipe is easy to make in minutes if you need a quick appetizer in a pinch!

Ingredients

  • 3 fresh roma tomatoes, finely diced (approx. 2.53 cups diced)
  • 2 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
  • 1 tbsp balsamic vinegar
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1/2 tsp dried oregano
  • 810 fresh basil leaves, finely chopped
  • 23 green onions, finely chopped or 2 tbsp minced red onion
  • 1 tbsp vegan parmesan or nutritional yeast, plus more for topping
  • 1/4 tsp black pepper
  • 1/4 tsp sea salt
  • 1 baguette, sliced diagonally into approximately 1/2 inch slices

Instructions

  1. Dice the tomato, removing the watery parts with the seeds. You don’t have to get all the watery bits and seeds out but remove a fair amount of it so the mixture doesn’t become soggy. See photos in blog post for example.
  2. Mix everything except the salt (and baguette) together in a mixing bowl.Place in the fridge for 1 hour. If you don’t have time to let it marinate, you can skip that step or even just let it sit for 5-10 minutes.
  3. When ready to serve, lightly toast the baguette slices on a baking tray in the oven at 350 degrees F for 5-10 minutes. Watch closely so as not to burn. They should be lightly browned.
  4. Toss the tomato mixture with the sea salt, then top the toasted baguette slices with the tomato mixture and serve right away topped with a little more chopped fresh basil and a sprinkle of fresh-cracked black pepper, if desired.

Notes

For more flavour and the most perfectly toasted baguette, lightly brush sliced bread with olive oil before toasting. I don’t usually do this but it does add a nice touch!

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 2 pieces
  • Calories: 133
  • Sugar: 2.6 g
  • Sodium: 277.8 mg
  • Fat: 3.5 g
  • Carbohydrates: 21.2 g
  • Fiber: 1.6 g
  • Protein: 2.6 g

Appetizers Christmas Recipes Less than 30 Minutes Low-Fat Nut-Free Recipes Soy-Free Sugar-Free

posted by Deryn Macey on November 20, 2019

3 Comments / Leave a Comment »

« Previous PostButternut Squash Bruschetta

Next Post »Vegan Mushroom Gravy

Leave a Reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

3 comments on “Easy Vegan Bruschetta”

  1. Sarah February 1, 2021 @ 3:13 pm Reply

    Delicious! My whole family loved this. I will be making sure I have all these ingredients on hand because this so easy to make and pairs perfectly with a nice red wine.

    • Deryn Macey February 1, 2021 @ 3:32 pm Reply

      Happy to hear it, Sarah! It is so yummy, isn’t it? Glad it was enjoyed and YES to bruschetta and wine!

  2. Shelly December 28, 2019 @ 8:42 pm Reply

    This was really great, we made it for an appy during Christmas and everyone really loved it! So easy too. We make the mixture in advance and then toasted the bread right before serving. Worked great!

Easy Vegan Bruschetta Recipe - Running on Real Food (2024)

FAQs

Why is my bruschetta watery? ›

If you're using beefsteak or medium to large heirloom tomatoes, take the extra time to peel and seed tomatoes before dicing them. Not only can thick tomato skins and bitter seeds add a less-than-desirable flavor and texture to your topping, but seeds add extra water, which can make your toasts runny and even soggy.

What's the difference between crostini and bruschetta? ›

The main difference between these two toasts is that crostini is often thinly sliced, while bruschetta is usually served in thicker slices and drizzled with olive oil before it's toasted. The standard topping is diced tomato mixed with olive oil, garlic and Italian herbs—delicious, but a little boring.

Why is my bruschetta bitter? ›

If your bruschetta is bitter, it is probably your olive oil. Extra virgin olive oil varies in pungency and bitterness. Try trying other brands to see if you can find something a little more pleasant for you!

What does bruschetta mean in Italian? ›

Bruschetta: From the Italian bruscare meaning "to roast over coals," this traditional garlic bread is made by rubbing slices of toasted bread with garlic cloves, then drizzling the bread with extra-virgin olive oil.

What kind of tomato is best for bruschetta? ›

The key to making the best bruschetta? It's all in the tomatoes. Because tomatoes are the focus of this simple recipe, it's worth it to use ripe, fresh ones. Juicier tomatoes work, but drier varieties like Roma are really what you're looking for.

How do you make tomatoes less watery? ›

Drain Tomatoes for Tossed Salads

Salt the tomatoes before combining them with other ingredients, letting them drain in a strainer or colander for just 15 or 20 minutes. You'll simultaneously intensify their flavor and ensure that the only liquid in the bowl is your dressing of choice.

What is the fancy name for bruschetta? ›

According to the International Culinary Center, the term bruschetta is sometimes used interchangeably with crostini and the Tuscan dish fettunta. In Tuscany, fettunta is usually served without toppings, especially in November, to taste the first oil of the season.

What is the French version of bruschetta? ›

The French call them tartines, the Americans Toasts and the Italians Bruschetta. The Webster Dictionary defines them as: an open sandwich, one with a rich or elaborate topping. No matter what you call them, we all seem to love them! I love serving Tartines as a heavier passed appetizer at parties.

What is the topping on bruschetta called? ›

food blogger Author has 2.9K answers and 47.5M. · 11mo. Though the whole thing is usually called bruschetta, the topping is called the condiment.

Is bruschetta supposed to be hard? ›

There are just a few things to bear in mind when making bruschetta. First up make sure you pronounce it right, the 'sch' is hard not the soft 'shh' you hear in restaurants around the world. The bread should be thick, slightly chewy and preferably toasted over the hot coals of a BBQ.

Does bruschetta get soggy? ›

Top the bruschetta right before serving to prevent it from going soggy. Alternatively, you can serve the bruschetta and topping separately and allow your guests to assemble them. Another step that can help is adding an ingredient to protect the bread from wetter ingredients.

How long does homemade bruschetta last? ›

Really you should try to only make as much as you can eat in one night, as this bruschetta does not store very well. If you really need to store some leftovers, place the tomato mixture in an airtight container, and keep in the refrigerator. The mixture will keep for about 2-3 days but is best eaten fresh.

What is a fun fact about bruschetta? ›

Bruschetta traces its roots back to ancient Rome, where peasants created a simple dish by grilling leftover bread over an open fire. This practice allowed them to make use of stale bread and add flavor to their meals. The word “bruschetta” comes from the Italian verb “bruscare,” which means “to roast over coals.”

What is focaccina? ›

Focaccina is a premier cuisine that specializes in the artful creation and sale of handcrafted focaccia, an Italian type of bread made with high-quality ingredients.

Why is my tomato sauce watery? ›

What Causes Watery Tomato Sauce? Enzymes! Fresh tomatoes are filled with enzymes that break down and eat through thickening agents. You need to deactivate those enzymes before you do anything else.

How do you keep sliced tomatoes from getting soggy? ›

Simply cover the cut side with plastic wrap—tightly—and loosely wrap the uncut side. Set the tomato on a small plate cut side down and put it in the refrigerator. Stored this way, sliced tomatoes will last a few days.

References

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Lidia Grady

Last Updated:

Views: 5509

Rating: 4.4 / 5 (45 voted)

Reviews: 92% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Lidia Grady

Birthday: 1992-01-22

Address: Suite 493 356 Dale Fall, New Wanda, RI 52485

Phone: +29914464387516

Job: Customer Engineer

Hobby: Cryptography, Writing, Dowsing, Stand-up comedy, Calligraphy, Web surfing, Ghost hunting

Introduction: My name is Lidia Grady, I am a thankful, fine, glamorous, lucky, lively, pleasant, shiny person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.