Recipe: Crushed Garlic and Basil Bruschetta

This super tomato-y bruschetta has the simplest ingredients. Along with a generous portion of sweet tomatoes, you’ll find extra virgin olive oil, fresh basil, crushed garlic and balsamic vinegar.

As you crunch into the baked bread crust, you probably won’t be thinking about it, but you’ll still be lowering your risk for heart disease, hypertension, Type 2 diabetes and cancer. Eat in good health!

Ingredients

• 3 cups fresh diced tomatoes (approximately 5 medium tomatoes)
• 1 clove crushed garlic
• 2 tablespoons chopped fresh basil
• 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
• 2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 1/8 tsp pepper
• 1 loaf hearty whole-grain bread (sandwich or baguette style loaf)

Directions

1. Mix together chopped tomatoes, crushed garlic and oil.
2. Sprinkle salt, pepper and basil into mixture and stir.
3. Slice bread into two-bite servings 1/2-inch thick. Toast in oven at 350 F or toast in pan lightly sprayed with olive oil cooking spray. For garlic lovers, roast crushed garlic in pan before toasting.
4. Spoon 3 tablespoons of tomato mixture over each slice and serve.

Nutrition information (per serving)

Makes 20 servings

Calories: 90
Total fat: 1.5 g
Saturated fat: 0 g
Trans fat: 0 g
Cholesterol: 0 mg
Sodium: 270 mg
Total carbohydrate: 16 g
Dietary fiber: 1 g
Sugars: 2 g
Protein: 3 g

— Recipe provided by Digestive Disease Health Team dietitians.