Ricotta Bruschetta with Roasted Tomatoes
These 7 ingredient, make-ahead, assemble-later Ricotta Bruschetta with Roasted Tomatoes are the perfect appetizer for your next get-together! Perfect any time of the year, these crostini use cherry tomatoes and balsamic glaze.
Ingredients
- 1 pound sweet cherry tomatoes
- 3 tablespoons olive oil divided
- 4 minced garlic cloves divided
- Salt/Black Pepper
- 8 ounces ricotta
- 1 bunch fresh basil divided
- 1 crusty bread loaf
- Balsamic Glaze
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400ºF.
- In a small baking dish, combine tomatoes, 1 tablespoon olive oil, 2 minced garlic cloves and 1/4 teaspoon each salt and pepper. Bake 20 minutes or until the tomatoes have slightly burst. Refrigerate until ready to use.
- In a blender or food processor, combine ricotta, 1 minced garlic clove, 1 tbsp olive oil, 1/2 cup fresh basil and 1/4 teaspoon each salt and pepper. Blend until smooth, then refrigerate until ready to use.
- Slice bread in 12 1/2-inch slices. In a small bowl, whisk together 1 tbsp olive oil and 1 minced garlic clove. To each bread slice, brush both sides with garlic olive oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Bake at 400ºF 10-12 minutes or until toasted well.
- When ready to serve, spread each cooled bread slice with 1-2 tablespoons of the the ricotta mixture, top with tomatoes (2-3 per toast), sprinkle with fresh basil, and drizzle balsamic glaze on top.
Notes
Best Bread Choices: A rustic Italian, French bread, Baguette or ciabatta are great choices. The key is to use a bread with a firm crust that can hold the toppings.
Balsamic Glaze Options: Store-bought ready-made balsamic, balsamic fig glaze, or balsamic raspberry glaze all work great! Making balsamic glaze from scratch is a simple process that involves reducing balsamic vinegar to a thicker, syrupy consistency. Here's a basic recipe:
Combine 1 cup balsamic vinegar + 2 tablespoons honey or brown sugar (optional, for sweetness) in a saucepan.
Place the saucepan over medium heat and bring the mixture to a gentle boil. Once it boils, reduce the heat to low to simmer. Allow the mixture to simmer, stirring occasionally, until it has reduced by half or reaches your desired thickness. This process usually takes about 15-20 minutes.
To test the consistency, dip a spoon into the mixture and let it cool for a moment. The glaze should coat the back of the spoon. Keep in mind that the glaze will thicken slightly as it cools.
Ricotta Substitutions: If you're not a fan of ricotta cheese, there are a couple substitution options that you can use instead. Keep in mind that the flavor and consistency will be altered.
Cream Cheese
Goat Cheese
Mascarpone
Cottage Cheese
Plant-Based Ricotta Alternatives
Feta Cheese Nutrition
Calories: 126kcal | Carbohydrates: 12g | Protein: 5g | Fat: 7g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 3g | Cholesterol: 10mg | Sodium: 149mg | Potassium: 134mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 304IU | Vitamin C: 9mg | Calcium: 68mg | Iron: 1mg
Balsamic Glaze Options: Store-bought ready-made balsamic, balsamic fig glaze, or balsamic raspberry glaze all work great! Making balsamic glaze from scratch is a simple process that involves reducing balsamic vinegar to a thicker, syrupy consistency. Here's a basic recipe:
Combine 1 cup balsamic vinegar + 2 tablespoons honey or brown sugar (optional, for sweetness) in a saucepan.
Place the saucepan over medium heat and bring the mixture to a gentle boil. Once it boils, reduce the heat to low to simmer. Allow the mixture to simmer, stirring occasionally, until it has reduced by half or reaches your desired thickness. This process usually takes about 15-20 minutes.
To test the consistency, dip a spoon into the mixture and let it cool for a moment. The glaze should coat the back of the spoon. Keep in mind that the glaze will thicken slightly as it cools.
Ricotta Substitutions: If you're not a fan of ricotta cheese, there are a couple substitution options that you can use instead. Keep in mind that the flavor and consistency will be altered.
Cream Cheese
Goat Cheese
Mascarpone
Cottage Cheese
Plant-Based Ricotta Alternatives
Feta Cheese Nutrition
Calories: 126kcal | Carbohydrates: 12g | Protein: 5g | Fat: 7g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 3g | Cholesterol: 10mg | Sodium: 149mg | Potassium: 134mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 304IU | Vitamin C: 9mg | Calcium: 68mg | Iron: 1mg