Fresh Strawberry Balsamic Bruschetta with Basil
A quick and easy summer snack featuring ripe strawberries marinated in aged balsamic vinegar, topped with fresh basil on toasted French baguette slices. Perfect for refreshing, light, and crowd-pleasing bites.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 8 minutes
- Total Time: 18 minutes
- Yield: 8 servings 1x
- Category: Snack
- Cuisine: Italian
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 cups fresh strawberries, hulled and quartered
- 2 tablespoons aged balsamic vinegar
- A small handful fresh basil leaves, torn
- 1 small French baguette, sliced about ½ inch thick
- 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- 1 large garlic clove, peeled and halved
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
- Optional: 1 teaspoon honey
- Optional: Goat cheese or fresh mozzarella for topping
Instructions
- Rinse and hull about 2 cups (about 300g) of fresh strawberries. Quarter them into bite-sized pieces and place them in a mixing bowl.
- Add 2 tablespoons (30ml) of aged balsamic vinegar and gently toss to coat. If your strawberries aren’t super sweet, stir in 1 teaspoon (5ml) of honey. Let this sit for 10 minutes to marinate.
- Preheat your grill pan or oven to 375°F (190°C). Slice a small French baguette into ½-inch thick slices.
- Brush each slice lightly with 2 tablespoons (30ml) of extra virgin olive oil on both sides.
- Place the slices on your baking sheet or grill pan and toast for about 3-4 minutes per side, or until golden and crisp. Watch carefully to avoid burning.
- Once toasted, rub each slice gently with a halved garlic clove for subtle aromatic flavor.
- Take a small handful of fresh basil leaves (around 10-12 leaves) and tear them into bite-sized pieces.
- Spoon the marinated strawberries evenly over each toasted bread slice.
- Sprinkle the torn basil leaves on top. Season lightly with salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste.
- Optional: Add a small dollop of goat cheese or fresh mozzarella on top for a creamy contrast. Drizzle a little extra balsamic vinegar or olive oil over everything for extra flair.
- Serve immediately for best texture and flavor. If serving later, keep the strawberry mixture separate and assemble just before serving.
Notes
Use firm, ripe strawberries and do not over-marinate to avoid soggy bruschetta. Toast bread until crisp but still slightly chewy inside. Fresh basil is preferred over dried for best flavor. If in a hurry, marinate strawberries for 5 minutes instead of 10. For gluten-free option, substitute bread with gluten-free baguette or crackers.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: About 2 bruschetta p
- Calories: 165
- Sugar: 10
- Sodium: 150
- Fat: 6
- Saturated Fat: 1
- Carbohydrates: 22
- Fiber: 3
- Protein: 3
Keywords: strawberry bruschetta, balsamic bruschetta, summer snack, basil bruschetta, easy bruschetta recipe, fresh strawberry recipe, vegetarian snack