Heirloom Tomato and Basil Bruschetta
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I can hardly even think of the movie Julie & Julia without getting incredibly nostalgic and sentimental. Every time I watch it, I can hardly stand how much Meryl Streep’s Julia Child seems like someone I could be very good friends with. (*side note: I didn’t love the book as much. It wasn’t as sweet and cute as the movie)
Anyway. Julia.
Even before I started blogging about food, I felt a certain connection to cooking. It is something I identify with. It’s like this magical way of poking a tiny hole in the huge balloon of stress and chaos that builds up every day and slowly releasing it until I can breathe again. The 10,096 thoughts in my head are quieted away by sizzling saute pans and the perfect knocking sound of a wooden spoons scraping the browned bits off the bottom of an enameled Dutch oven. It’s instant aromatherapy and at the end of the (usually) short-lived experience, I get to sit down and eat something beautiful, wholesome, and filling. The entire making and eating process is so cathartic, I feel incredibly relaxed after a meal.
So, you might understand why watching someone like Julia Child discover her love for cooking and good food makes me sentimental. I can’t help but love that movie. Like most people who watched it, I found myself staring mouth agape at the apple tarte tatin, the beouf bourgignon, and the whole fish cooked in butter. But Michael and I literally heard gasps around us in the movie theater when Amy Adams’ character and her husband eat her heirloom tomato and basil bruschetta toward the beginning of the movie.
And I haven’t stopped thinking about it since.
So, I made it for dinner.
Heirloom tomatoes were on sale at my local market and I just couldn’t resist.
It was perfect.
Michael’s new job is just underway, and it’s been a long week of un-packing, moving in, arranging, and dealing with various ordering fiascos. So, when he got off work tonight, it was just plain time. I made a big plate of these and paired them with a simple salad. Top it off with a few homemade fudgy brownies and a good movie, and we couldn’t be happier.
Heirloom Tomato and Basil Bruschetta
Ingredients
- 4 Heirloom tomatoes, cut into a large dice (you can use regular tomatoes, too)
- 4–5 leaves of basil, cut into a chiffonade/ribbons
- 1 clove garlic, finely minced
- coarse salt
- coarse pepper
- Good quality parmesan cheese (I use Parmigiano Reggiano)
- 1–2 Tbsp butter
- baguette, sliced diagonally into slices
- olive oil and balsamic vinegar (optional)
Instructions
- Combine diced tomatoes, basil, and garlic. Sprinkle with salt and pepper to taste. If desired, add a small splash of balsamic vinegar and olive oil and toss to coat (I recommend it).
- Butter both sides of each slice of baguette. Cook in a large saute pan over medium heat. Cook 3-4 minutes or until golden brown and turn over. Cook another 3-4 minutes or till golden. Repeat as needed with remaining baguette slices.
- Top toasted bread slices with tomato mixture and parmesan and serve.
Once we went to a great little Italian place in Jackson Hole and their bruschetta was amazing! We haven’t been back since, but I think this recipe will satisfy the craving I’ve had for way too many years. Thanks for sharing!
Good tomatoes are one of the best things about summer (and fresh corn on the cob!!!). oh heavens I’m so excited.
Love the recipe but I disagree about the book.