Bruschetta facts for kids
Bruschetta topped with a tomato salad, caramelized balsamic vinegar, and Grana Padano cheese
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| Course | Antipasto |
|---|---|
| Place of origin | Italy |
| Serving temperature | Cold dish |
| Main ingredients | Bread, garlic, olive oil |
| Variations | Tomato, vegetables, beans, cured meat, cheese |
Bruschetta (/bruːˈskɛtə/, /bruːˈʃɛtə/, Italian pronunciation: [bruˈsketta]) is a tasty starter dish from Italy. It is made from grilled bread. The bread is rubbed with garlic and then topped with olive oil and salt.
You can find many different kinds of bruschetta. Some have toppings like tomatoes, vegetables, beans, cured meat, or cheese. In Italy, bruschetta is often made using a special grill called a brustolina.
Different Kinds of Bruschetta
Many people love bruschetta with tomatoes. A common recipe outside Italy uses basil, fresh tomato, garlic, and onion or mozzarella cheese. Bruschetta is often eaten as a snack or a small starter before a meal. Sometimes, you might find jars of bruschetta topping in stores. This topping is usually tomato-based.
In the Abruzzo region of Italy, there is a special kind of bruschetta. It is made with a type of salame called ventricina. This salame is made from raw pork products and spices. It is aged inside a pig bladder. The soft paste is then spread on slices of bread, which are sometimes grilled. This dish was first made as a way to use up bread that was getting old.
In Tuscany, another region of Italy, bruschetta is called fettunta. It is usually served without any toppings. People often eat it in November to taste the first fresh olive oil of the season.
History of Bruschetta
Bruschetta first appeared in Italy during the 15th century. However, the idea of eating bread with olive oil is much older. It can be traced back to Ancient Rome. Back then, olive growers would take their olives to a local press. They would taste their freshly made olive oil by dipping a slice of bread into it.
What "Bruschetta" Means
The word bruschetta (pronounced broo-SKET-tah) comes from the Roman dialect verb bruscare. This word is similar to the Italian word abbrustolire. Both words mean 'to toast' or 'to roast over coals'. Toasting bread and soaking it with fresh olive oil has been a common practice for a very long time, possibly since ancient Roman times.
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Bruschetta with chopped tomatoes and basil
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Bruschetta with olive oil and prosciutto
See also
In Spanish: Bruschetta para niños
