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CHEESY PESTO BRUSCHETTA

June 1, 2020 by Lovoni + Leave a Comment

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Bruschetta recipes are prolific online I know but this is mine version – a little spicy and a bit sassy. People who don’t like tomatoes eat it – that’s how delicious it is – all modesty aside of course. It is excellent. Cheesy Pesto Bruschetta – balsamic tomatoes with a little heat and sweetness are piled onto crunchy, warm pesto cheese bread. Now you’ve got yourself a pretty spectacular and, dare I say, easy appetizer or lunch. It’ll do dinner too with some wine or beer to accompany. Pfft, like I need to tell you something would be good with booze – right?!

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CHEESY PESTO BRUSHCETTA

Although summer is slow getting started here in Indiana this year, it has been teasing us with days here and there, just enough to make my basil plants grow like weeds. I got enthusiastic and planted about six basil this year and some basil seeds which have all come up, so it’s basil central already. Lots of basil = lots of pesto making and I’m good with that. For this recipe, make your own pesto – here’s my recipe, including some dos and don’ts for making perfect pesto, or buy good store-bought. Nothing beats homemade pesto. Just saying.

  • CHEESY PESTO BRUSHCETTA
  • CHEESY PESTO BRUSHCETTA
  • CHEESY PESTO BRUSHCETTA
  • CHEESY PESTO BRUSHCETTA

I used a ciabatta loaf I bought from Panera bread but a baguette would work too or some Turkish bread. You could even use naan in a pinch. These long pieces are perfect for sharing.

To cut each half, I cut on an angle to make triangles or just cut straight across.

CHEESY PESTO BRUSHCETTA

I ate some of this for my lunch today. The bread was still warm and crisp. It was so perfect. I refrained from wine because it was the middle of the day and I was working – not that, that has ever stopped me. One thing to note, the most important thing – buy good tomatoes. Campari (those large cocktail looking tomatoes) or vine-ripened cocktail tomatoes will be the nicest at the moment. The tomatoes are the star of this recipe so they need to be ripe, juicy and flavorful. Chat to you soon, toodles, Lovoni xo

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CHEESY PESTO BRUSHCETTA

Ciabatta bread thickly spread with homemade or store-bought pesto, sprinkled with mozzarella and baked until the bread is crunchy and the cheese is gooey. Then the warm bread is topped with a spicy tomato, basil and balsamic mixture, sprinkled with parmesan and cut into triangles. The result is the most delicious appetizer to share, lunch or a light dinner. Use any tomatoes you want; I used the cherry vine-ripened tomatoes because they’re so good to eat. Just make sure you’re using really nice tomatoes for this recipe as the tomatoes and pesto are the start ingredients.
Prep Time20 mins
Cook Time12 mins
Total Time32 mins
Course: Appetizer
Servings: 6
Calories: 228kcal
Author: Lovoni

Ingredients

US Customary – Metric
  • 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 2 teaspoon sambal olek chili paste – or, in a pinch sweet chili sauce, omitting the pinch of sugar later – could also add 1 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
  • 1 fat garlic clove, minced
  • generous pinch of salt, pepper and sugar
  • 24 oz vine-ripened tomatoes, coarsely chopped
  • 3 tablespoons coarsely chopped fresh basil leaves, plus a few extra leaves for garnish
  • 10 oz ciabatta bread, halved horizontally or use a baguette
  • 2/3 – 1 cup basil pesto here for pesto recipe
  • 1 cup grated mozzarella cheese not the pre-grated stuff
  • 1/4 cup finely grated fresh parmesan

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 450°F (230°C). Have a large baking sheet ready.
  • Combine the vinegar, oil, sambal, garlic, salt, pepper and sugar together in a medium sized bowl. Add the tomato and stir until well combined; set aside.
  • Place both halves of the bread, cut side up, on the baking sheet. Spread with pesto and sprinkle with mozzarella. Bake for 10 to 12 minutes until the cheese is melted and the bread is browned and crisp.
  • Place the bread on a cutting board. Top with the tomato mixture and sprinkle with the parmesan. Top with extra basil leaves. Cut into serving size pieces. I cut each half into triangles but they can also just be cut straight across.

Nutrition

Calories: 228kcal | Carbohydrates: 28g | Protein: 11g | Fat: 8g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Cholesterol: 18mg | Sodium: 420mg | Potassium: 289mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 4g | Vitamin A: 1107IU | Vitamin C: 16mg | Calcium: 152mg | Iron: 1mg

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Filed Under: Appetizers, Entertaining, Fast & Fresh, featured, popular, Seasonal - spring & summer, Vegetarian Tagged With: bruschetta, cheesy pesto bruschetta, how to make bruschetta, pesto

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hello there...

I'm Lovoni - an Aussie living abroad for the last 21 years. Working in food media, I'm a cookbook author; food stylist; cookery teacher & I had a TV food show when I lived in Canada. As a certified nutritionist I believe in nourishment not punishment & love pastry, good wine & afternoon teas. Full of wanderlust, I'm always on the lookout for my next adventure...

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Here are some random pics: the first is mum & I in a tiny church in Drummheller, Alberta, Canada. There is one of mum in her bikini drinking a scotch at Palm Beach in Sydney (snarky me on the left in that pic). The last one is mum as a bridesmaid holding my sister. There’s one with my niece when she was little. I love the one where mum has decorated herself in daisy chains. Good memories. 
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Such pretty little quail’s eggs. I’m working a Such pretty little quail’s eggs. I’m working at home all week testing recipes for a cookbook (sadly not another one of mine just yet) & one of the recipes requires quail eggs. I think I’d rather admire them than cook them but needs, must…
#textures #quaileggs #eggs #monotone #monotoneinterior #greys #greige #greigestyle #recipewriter #foodstylist #foodstyling #lovoni #freshhunger #recipetesting #lovonis_lark
Heading back to My homeland today for mum’s fune Heading back to My homeland today for mum’s funeral. Sadly mum passed away on Wednesday & the world suddenly became less joyful, less stylish & definitely less clean & tidy. Gardens are now less pretty & food not as tasty for mum was both a fabulous cook & had the most beautiful garden. Most of you who might take the time to read this never had the honour of meeting my mum but if you had met her, she would be your friend & confidant for life. She played both mum & dad to my sis & I after our father left but we never seemed to want for anything. She was a shining star who always encouraged me to follow my dreams, even when it meant me moving halfway around the world. That just made us closer. She will be missed by those who love her ♥️
Here are some random pics: the first is mum & I in a tiny church in Drummheller, Alberta, Canada. There is one of mum in her bikini drinking a scotch at Palm Beach in Sydney (snarky me on the left in that pic). The last one is mum as a bridesmaid holding my sister. There’s one with my niece when she was little. I love the one where mum has decorated herself in daisy chains. Good memories. 
.
.
.
.
#freshhunger #lovoni #lovonis_lark #mum #mumslife #missmymum #bestmum #bestmumever
How are you? I wanted to let you know I have a per How are you? I wanted to let you know I have a personal inst account @lovonis_lark & I’d love for you to visit & give me a follow. I have lots of really fun things afoot & that’s the place where I’ll sharing so pop over. I’d love to connect with you; we can’t all just be about work can we? L xo
Capture by @danshow02 
Cocktail made by @kalliopicarolynjones 
This shot is from a fun photo shoot I was styling for last week. This is one of my favourite images. 
.
.
.
#cocktailsofinstagram #martini #drinksplashphotography #olives #lovonis_lark #lovoni #freshhunger #foodstylist #foodstyling #foodstylingandphotography #darkandmoody #darkandmoodyfoodphotography
Crispy Tofu with Honey Sambal - rather bland tofu Crispy Tofu with Honey Sambal - rather bland tofu is a blank canvas. Even if you’re not a tofu lover I promise this delivers. Crispy outside & creamy inside with a sweet, hot peanuttty dipping sauce this is my absolute favorite way to eat tofu. 

https://freshhunger.com/2022/03/02/crispy-tofu-with-honey-sambal/
#tofu #vegetarianrecipes #vegetarian #tofurecipes #crispy #freshhunger #lovoni #foodstylistlife #foodstylingandphotography #darkandmoody #honey #sambal #onmytabletoday #onmytable #recipecreator
Lemon Coconut Syrup Loaf - cold, snowy days calls Lemon Coconut Syrup Loaf - cold, snowy days calls for some cake. I have a nostalgic fondness for any sort of loaf cake. There’s something wholesome and reassuring about a cake cooked in a loaf pan. Not at all showy, a slice invokes, at times, a much-needed sense of security. It reminds me of mum and my nan, of times past back in my home in Sydney. I don’t recall if either mum or nan every made a Coconut Citrus Syrup Loaf but I know they both would of loved this recipe with its citrus tartness and the wonderfully sticky bottom from the syrup. Lovely just served on its own, it’s particularly good served with a dollop of clotted cream. 
https://freshhunger.com/2021/03/26/coconut-citrus-syrup-loaf/
#loafcake #lemony #freshhunger #lovoni #lemon #syrup #instabaking #onmytable #foodstylist #foodstylingandphotography #simpleliving #minimalist #eatcake #bakeathome #fromscratch #nutritionist #wholesome
Leaping (yes, leaping) into Monday with a jug of S Leaping (yes, leaping) into Monday with a jug of Sunburst juice - 1 orange, 2 red peppers, 3 carrots, 12 strawberries. Really quite good & packed with vitamin C. Have a great week everyone. Work on building some good habits. L xo 
.
.
.
#juice #juiceon #nutrition #nutritioncoach #nutritionist #nutritips #oranges #vitaminc #smallchanges #vitality #freshhunger #lovoni #foodstylist #foodstyling
Such pretty little quail’s eggs. I’m working a Such pretty little quail’s eggs. I’m working at home all week testing recipes for a cookbook (sadly not another one of mine just yet) & one of the recipes requires quail eggs. I think I’d rather admire them than cook them but needs, must…
#textures #quaileggs #eggs #monotone #monotoneinterior #greys #greige #greigestyle #recipewriter #foodstylist #foodstyling #lovoni #freshhunger #recipetesting #lovonis_lark
Heading back to My homeland today for mum’s fune Heading back to My homeland today for mum’s funeral. Sadly mum passed away on Wednesday & the world suddenly became less joyful, less stylish & definitely less clean & tidy. Gardens are now less pretty & food not as tasty for mum was both a fabulous cook & had the most beautiful garden. Most of you who might take the time to read this never had the honour of meeting my mum but if you had met her, she would be your friend & confidant for life. She played both mum & dad to my sis & I after our father left but we never seemed to want for anything. She was a shining star who always encouraged me to follow my dreams, even when it meant me moving halfway around the world. That just made us closer. She will be missed by those who love her ♥️
Here are some random pics: the first is mum & I in a tiny church in Drummheller, Alberta, Canada. There is one of mum in her bikini drinking a scotch at Palm Beach in Sydney (snarky me on the left in that pic). The last one is mum as a bridesmaid holding my sister. There’s one with my niece when she was little. I love the one where mum has decorated herself in daisy chains. Good memories. 
.
.
.
.
#freshhunger #lovoni #lovonis_lark #mum #mumslife #missmymum #bestmum #bestmumever
How are you? I wanted to let you know I have a per How are you? I wanted to let you know I have a personal inst account @lovonis_lark & I’d love for you to visit & give me a follow. I have lots of really fun things afoot & that’s the place where I’ll sharing so pop over. I’d love to connect with you; we can’t all just be about work can we? L xo
Capture by @danshow02 
Cocktail made by @kalliopicarolynjones 
This shot is from a fun photo shoot I was styling for last week. This is one of my favourite images. 
.
.
.
#cocktailsofinstagram #martini #drinksplashphotography #olives #lovonis_lark #lovoni #freshhunger #foodstylist #foodstyling #foodstylingandphotography #darkandmoody #darkandmoodyfoodphotography
Crispy Tofu with Honey Sambal - rather bland tofu Crispy Tofu with Honey Sambal - rather bland tofu is a blank canvas. Even if you’re not a tofu lover I promise this delivers. Crispy outside & creamy inside with a sweet, hot peanuttty dipping sauce this is my absolute favorite way to eat tofu. 

https://freshhunger.com/2022/03/02/crispy-tofu-with-honey-sambal/
#tofu #vegetarianrecipes #vegetarian #tofurecipes #crispy #freshhunger #lovoni #foodstylistlife #foodstylingandphotography #darkandmoody #honey #sambal #onmytabletoday #onmytable #recipecreator
Lemon Coconut Syrup Loaf - cold, snowy days calls Lemon Coconut Syrup Loaf - cold, snowy days calls for some cake. I have a nostalgic fondness for any sort of loaf cake. There’s something wholesome and reassuring about a cake cooked in a loaf pan. Not at all showy, a slice invokes, at times, a much-needed sense of security. It reminds me of mum and my nan, of times past back in my home in Sydney. I don’t recall if either mum or nan every made a Coconut Citrus Syrup Loaf but I know they both would of loved this recipe with its citrus tartness and the wonderfully sticky bottom from the syrup. Lovely just served on its own, it’s particularly good served with a dollop of clotted cream. 
https://freshhunger.com/2021/03/26/coconut-citrus-syrup-loaf/
#loafcake #lemony #freshhunger #lovoni #lemon #syrup #instabaking #onmytable #foodstylist #foodstylingandphotography #simpleliving #minimalist #eatcake #bakeathome #fromscratch #nutritionist #wholesome
Leaping (yes, leaping) into Monday with a jug of S Leaping (yes, leaping) into Monday with a jug of Sunburst juice - 1 orange, 2 red peppers, 3 carrots, 12 strawberries. Really quite good & packed with vitamin C. Have a great week everyone. Work on building some good habits. L xo 
.
.
.
#juice #juiceon #nutrition #nutritioncoach #nutritionist #nutritips #oranges #vitaminc #smallchanges #vitality #freshhunger #lovoni #foodstylist #foodstyling

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