Bruschetta with Roasted Tomatoes and Garlic

You know those toasty little open-faced tomato-garlic sandwiches? Here they are in a homemade, fast, and fashionable recipe. Who knew they could be so good for you and so economical? They sound so exotic, but they truly are a basic staple of our real food redo. Brush baguette slices with a little olive oil and toast in the oven, then dollop on this colorful topping. Leftover roasted tomatoes are also great on a veggie burger or flatbread.

Serves 8 • Prep Time: 10 minutes • Cook Time: 25 to 30 minutes

 

2  loaves Whole Wheat and flaxseed Baguettes (see here) or store-bought whole grain baguettes, sliced

1  tablespoon olive oil, for brushing

ROASTED TOMATO, GARLIC, AND BASIL TOPPING

12  Roma tomatoes, halved lengthwise

4  cloves garlic, peeled

2  tablespoons olive oil Salt and pepper

1/2  cup or 1 handful fresh basil leaves

1/2  cup coarsely chopped fresh Italian parsley, plus more for garnish

  1. Preheat the oven to 400°F. Brush one side of each baguette slice with olive oil and place on a rimmed baking sheet.
  2. Line a second rimmed baking sheet with aluminum foil. Toss the tomatoes, garlic, and olive oil together in a large bowl until the tomatoes glisten. Turn the tomato mixture out onto the second prepared pan and smooth into one layer. Season with salt and pepper.
  3. Roast the tomatoes for 25 to 30 minutes, until softened and caramelized. Remove from the oven and let cool in the pan. During the last 10 minutes of roasting, toast the baguette slices in the oven until they brown around the edges, then remove from the oven and let cool in the pan.
  4. When the tomatoes are cool enough to handle, remove and discard the skins and seeds. Place the roasted tomato pulp and garlic, and the basil and parsley, in a food processor or blender and pulse 8 times, or until coarsely chopped and blended. Taste for seasoning. To serve, top each slice with a spoonful of topping. Sprinkle each with Italian parsley.

Calories 61 • Total Fat 5g • Saturated Fat 1g • Carbohydrates 3.5g • Protein 1g • Dietary Fiber 1g • Sodium 4mg