Q and A: Bruschetta

Q: Jenny from Australia asks:

Isn't bruschetta made out of ham??

A: Pronounced "Bru-sket-ta" in Italian and one of the simplest aperitivo snacks, bruschetta is typically slices of crusty toasted bread, drizzled with extra virgin olive oil and rubbed with seasoning, usually garlic. Then come the toppings which area as varied as regional Italian cuisine.


The most classic bruschetta is topped with chopped tomatoes, marinated in extra virgin olive oil, lemon juice, salt, pepper, garlic (and sometimes basil or oregano). But Bruschetta can also be topped with ham. I recommend Prosciutto di Parma.



I've even had bruschetta with lard, pâté, and my own concoction of pesto and fresh mozzarella which was a big hit with my Italian dinner guests.



If you're short for time and need a quick but satisfying first course, bruschetta is the perfect choice and pretty impossible to mess up. Just don't skimp on the extra virgin olive oil. Dry bruschetta is hard to bite through and not very flavorful.



Buon Appetito!