Bruschetta With Lower Carb Bread
Dreaming of a relaxing holiday in Rome? Aren’t we all! However, we don’t need to hop on a plane to enjoy the beautiful aromas and flavours of Italy. We can create our own Italian experience… at home!
How? By whipping up a plate of bruschetta. It might sound complicated, but bruschetta is one of the quickest and easiest Italian dishes to make. And it can even be low carb with some simple changes.
How to make bruschetta
The term ‘bruschetta’ means ‘to toast’, and a serving of bruschetta is a thick slice of bread that’s been toasted and flavoured with olive oil and garlic. It’s quite similar to crostini. However, crostini is typically made from small slices of bread, while bruschetta is made with big, wide, whole slices of bread.
To make bruschetta with lower carb bread, we recommend using LoCho rolls. This way, you can slice them right along the middle, and end up with two big, thick, bruschetta-worthy slices for toasting.
Making bruschetta is easy. Take your halved LoCho rolls, and grill or toast them on both sides until golden brown. While they’re still warm, peel a clove of garlic, cut it in half, and rub the exposed edge all over one side of the toast. All that’s left to do is drizzle a little olive oil over the top. That’s really all there is to it. Easy!
That’s the authentic way to make bruschetta. But there's another way, too.
If you want to try a different method, slice up some garlic and throw it in a pan with enough olive oil to cover it. Heat gently, allowing the garlic to infuse the oil. Lay your LoCho rolls on a tray, and pop in the oven or under the grill to toast one side. Flip when brown, then brush the oil all over the untoasted side. Pop back under the grill, or back in the oven, to toast the other side. Enjoy them warm.
Low carb bruschetta toppings
Traditionally, bruschetta is simply served as is. The flavours of the garlic and olive oil, and the crispiness of the bread, make this an easy yet delicious snack. However, most bruschetta today is served with a topping. Chopped tomatoes are typical, although the possibilities are endless!
To keep your bruschetta lower in carbs, give the following toppings a try…
Classic tomato
Combine chopped tomatoes with basil and balsamic vinegar, and sprinkle some cheese on top.
Meaty
Add some slices of Spanish or Italian meat, like Serrano ham or prosciutto. Either with tomatoes, or without.Cheesy
Top with your favourite cheese. Something melty like cheddar or creamy like burrata works well.
‘Green Goddess’
A super healthy variation topped with green goodness like sugar snaps, spinach, and asparagus.
Fancy
Add thick slices of medium cooked steak, chunks of blue cheese, and a handful of watercress.
Fishy
Try thinly sliced fennel, cooked prawns, a squeeze of fresh lemon juice, and a sprinkling of black pepper.
Sweet
Leave out the garlic and top with ricotta and red berries. It’s not really bruschetta, but it’s tasty!
What to serve with bruschetta
The great thing about bruschetta is that it’s so versatile. Make it as part of an Italian antipasto platter, alongside cured meats, cheeses, olives, and nuts. Enjoy as a snack with a glass of wine. Serve alongside a grilled vegetable salad, with a veggie soup, or as a side to a low carb ‘pasta’ dish.