Garlicky Avocado Bruschetta

Pretty sure "bruschetta" is Italian for AWESOME.

In Italy, bruschetta (brew.sket.a) is roasted bread rubbed with garlic, drizzled with olive oil, and seasoned with salt and pepper. Here in America, we’ve butchered the pronunciation a bit (brew.shet.a, anyone?) but managed to add a few yummy ingredients—fresh tomatoes, basil, and balsamic vinegar—to make it even more awesome.

I’m always tempted to order this delicious appetizer when I see it on a restaurant menu. But for some strange reason, I had been hesitant to try making it at home. I don’t know why…it turns out, it’s SUPER easy. I found this yummy basic bruschetta recipe online and then added garlic and avocado to change it up a little.

Ingredients:
4 medium tomatoes, chopped
2 tablespoons fresh basil, chopped (or torn)
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
Freshly ground black pepper
Sea salt
1 medium avocado, chopped

Directions:
In a medium bowl, combine tomatoes, basil, minced garlic (I used a garlic press), balsamic vinegar, and olive oil. Add as much freshly ground pepper as you like (I did about 12 “twists” of the pepper grinder) and a little salt (I did about 3 or 4 “twists” on this one). Stir well. Add avocado and stir gently to combine. (Over mixing will make the avocado mushy.) Taste and add more pepper or salt if needed.

You can serve this right away or cover and refrigerate to let the flavors mingle. Mine chilled in the fridge for about an hour and a half before it was served and it turned out perfect.

Serving Suggestions:
I served this with fresh-baked baguette slices, but it can be eaten several different ways . In the original recipe, the author used it as a topping on Melba toast. To cut carbs, you could swap the Melba toast for whole wheat crackers like Ak-Mak. And the next time I make this, I’m going to toss it with a little whole wheat angel-hair pasta and serve it as a main dish. YUM!!!

Results:
I made Garlicky Avocado Bruschetta for a little girl’s get-together the other night and it turned out spectacular. It received rave reviews and we practically had to restrain ourselves from licking the bowl. Yeah, it was that good.

If you’re looking for a simple appetizer that is sure to impress at your next family dinner or gathering, this is the recipe for you. It’s fast, easy, and Molto delizioso!!!

Until next time,
Ryann