This Vegan Bruschetta is loaded with fresh bold flavors; juicy ripe tomatoes and fresh garlic drizzled with olive oil and balsamic vinegar sitting on top of a crispy baguette. It's an easy-to-make vegan appetizer perfect for entertaining!
This crispy, garlic-flavored baguette topped with fresh tomatoes, garlic, and basil is the ultimate combination of flavors and textures. Perfect as a snack or side dish, the refreshing taste goes well with any meal and is definitely a crowd-pleaser. Perfect to serve at your next potluck, family gathering, or holiday celebration, this vegan bruschetta recipe will not disappoint.
Looking for more easy vegan appetizer recipes great for feeding a crowd or to enjoy as a snack? Try this Vegan Buffalo “Chicken” Dip Recipe or this Vegan Seven Layer Dip next!
Why You’ll Love This Vegan Bruschetta Recipe
- Fresh flavors: Juicy ripe tomatoes with basil and garlic are bruschetta toppings that just scream fresh.
- Good for a crowd: Finger foods are great for feeding a crowd so serve this bruschetta at your next family gathering or holiday celebration.
- Easy to prepare: Just a few simple steps and you’ll have great-tasting bruschetta.
- Make ahead option: If you want to get things going, you can prep the tomato mixture and cut up the bread. Toast the bread and top with the tomatoes just before serving.
- Budget-friendly: Forget the fancy, posh appetizers, bruschetta is inexpensive to prepare. You’ll be surprised that vegan appetizer recipes are usually affordable.
What You'll Need the Best Vegan Bruschetta
Fresh ingredients make all the difference in this recipe so make sure to pick them up a day or two before you want to prepare this recipe.
- Baguette: Use a fresh baked baguette with a crispy crust.
- Tomatoes: Choose the ripest tomatoes you can find or pick these up a few days before you want to make the bruschetta so they have time to ripen.
- Basil: Freshly chopped basil adds to the flavor.
- Garlic: Grated garlic adds flavor to the tomato mixture and adds a little something extra to the bread.
- Olive oil: You’ll need olive oil for the tomato mixture and for drizzling on the bread.
- Balsamic vinegar: Balsamic vinegar creates a nice balance of flavor in the tomato and olive oil mixture.
- Salt: Sprinkle on a touch of salt to enhance the flavor.
- Optional: Drizzle with balsamic glaze if you like.
See the recipe card below for exact ingredient amounts, nutritional information, and detailed instructions.
Variations
- Try oregano instead of basil: If you can’t find fresh basil, use oregano instead.
- Add onions: Mix in some finely diced red onions to the tomato mixture.
- Stir in olives: For a saltier taste, add chopped black or green olives to the tomatoes and olive oil.
- Top with vegan parmesan: Sprinkle vegan parmesan cheese on top of the bread slices.
- Gluten-Free: For gluten-free, pick up a gluten-free bread, or for a lower glycemic option, choose sourdough.
How to Make Vegan Bruschetta
Here are the instructions on how to make this bruschetta:
- Prep the oven and bread. Preheat the oven and line a baking sheet with slices of the baguette. Drizzle the bread with olive oil and bake until golden and crispy.
- Season the bread. While the bread is still warm, rub a clove of garlic on each piece.
- Prepare the topping. Slice the tomatoes into small squares and transfer to a bowl. Top them with chopped fresh basil, minced or grated garlic, olive oil, balsamic vinegar, salt, and pepper. Mix until combined.
- Top the bread. Add a few tablespoons of the tomato mixture to each slice of bread. Drizzle with balsamic glaze and enjoy!
How to Store
Storing: Leftovers keep in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. If possible store the tomato mixture and bread separately so the bread does not get soggy.
Freezing: I do not recommend freezing this recipe once assembled but you can freeze leftover bread. Freeze the leftover bread in a freezer bag and thaw it on the kitchen counter until soft and toast for a few minutes before adding the topping.
How to Make the Dish Ahead of Time
If you want to get a head start on this recipe, you can assemble the topping ingredients and prep the bread in advance. The bruschetta will taste best if the bread is freshly toasted and the tomatoes are placed on top just before you want to eat it.
Serving Suggestions
This tomato bruschetta is ideal for an appetizer, mid-day nosh, party, or game-day snack. Perfect for crowds, one batch yields 24 servings.
If you are wondering what to eat with bruschetta, it pairs well with salad or pasta. Here are some great examples of what goes well with bruschetta:
- Pair it with this Vegan Caesar Salad or this Vegan Greek Salad or serve alongside this Creamy Vegan Gnocchi Soup or this Minestrone Soup.
- Serve with this Lemon Garlic Pasta or this Creamy Vegan Mushroom Pasta.
Recipe Tips
- Don’t overload the bread. Don’t try to squeeze as much tomato mixture as you can on top of the bread as it will be difficult to eat and the tomatoes will fall off.
- Use ripe tomatoes. To get the most flavorful bruschetta you must use ripe tomatoes.
- Substitute jarred garlic. If you’ve run out of fresh garlic you can use jarred garlic. Garlic powder is not the best substitute.
- Wait to top the bread. Top the bread with the tomato mixture just before you want to serve it or the bread will get soggy.
Frequently Asked Questions
Bruschetta is a piece of toasted bread that is rubbed with garlic and topped with tomatoes, garlic, and olive oil.
If it doesn’t have tomatoes, it’s technically not bruschetta but you can use other vegetables to make bruschetta toppings. You can use mushrooms or peppers to make vegan crostini which is similar to bruschetta.
You can use cherry tomatoes to make bruschetta but I prefer to use whatever ripe tomatoes I can find at the grocery store.
Yes, bruschetta is usually considered vegan. As long as there is no meat or cheese or other animal-based foods, bruschetta is vegan.
More Delicious Vegan Appetizer Recipes
Vegan Bruschetta
Ingredients
- 1 fresh baguette
- 4 medium tomatoes
- 2 tablespoon chopped fresh basil about 8 leaves
- 2 cloves garlic grated + 1 for rubbing on bread
- ¼ cup olive oil + more to drizzle on bread
- 2 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
- ½ teaspoon salt
- pepper to taste
- optional: balsamic glaze
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400*F. Slice the baguette and line the bread slices on a baking sheet.
- Drizzle the bread with olive oil, then bake for 8-10 minutes, until golden and crispy.
- While the bread is still warm, rub a clove of garlic on each piece of bread.
- Slice the tomatoes into small squares and transfer to a bowl. Top with them with chopped fresh basil, minced or grated garlic, olive oil, balsamic vinegar, salt, and pepper. Mix until combined.
- Add a few tablespoons of the tomato mixture to each slice of bread. Drizzle with balsamic glaze and enjoy!
Notes
- Don’t overload the bread. Don’t try to squeeze as much tomato mixture as you can on top of the bread as it will be difficult to eat and the tomatoes will fall off.
- Use ripe tomatoes. To get the most flavorful bruschetta you must use ripe tomatoes.
- Substitute jarred garlic. If you’ve run out of fresh garlic you can use jarred garlic. Garlic powder is not the best substitute.
- Wait to top the bread. Top the bread with the tomato mixture just before you want to serve it or the bread will get soggy.
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