Bruschetta Or Crostini?

Italian food is known for its use of simple and fresh ingredients that are combined to make delicious, no-fuss dishes. Both bruschetta and crostini are examples of Italian cuisine that is easy and tasty.

So, what is the difference between bruschetta and crostini? I frankly thought they were one and the same, but I did a little research and found out that’s not exactly true. The word bruschetta comes from the Italian word bruscare, which means to roast over coals. Bruschetta is a much larger hunk of rustic-style bread which is rubbed with garlic, drizzled with olive oil and grilled to produce char marks.

Crostini are smaller and usually made with white bread, usually an Italian loaf or baguette. Crostini translates to “little toasts”. These smaller slices are brushed with olive oil and baked in the oven at 450 degrees for about 10 minutes.

Whichever way you fix the bread, everything is better on toast! The bread acts as a built-in plate which make them perfect finger foods to serve anytime and anywhere. They can be savory or sweet – the variety of toppings is almost endless. These quick and easy appetizers can work for your next gathering or as a nice lite evening repast. Once you get the bread prepared, there’s practically no more cooking involved!

Southern Living has some wonderful bruschetta and crostini recipes for you to try.

  • Brunch Bruschetta Bar – This is good mix of sweet and savory choices. The first thing you do to get started is to use some really good bread, your favorite or a mix of breads. Then you add things like scrambled or poached eggs, smoked salmon, cheeses, jams and preserves, fresh fruit, bacon and anything else you want.
  • BLT Bruschetta – These bite-sized BLTs would be perfect appetizers for a lazy weekend breakfast. You bake the bacon with some garlic cloves for about 25 minutes, and then you use the roasted garlic to make a sauce that takes regular mayo up a notch.
  • Ricotta and Arugula Bruschetta – This is a perfect recipe for these beautiful autumn days! You will need some roasted pumpkin which you can do on your own, or buy those convenient pre-packed pumpkin cubes from the store. Once you get your bread and pumpkin roasted, you spread some creamy ricotta on the toasted bread, top with roasted pumpkin and arugula, drizzle with honey and add a little bit of cracked pepper and sea salt.
  • Herbed Goat Cheese Bruschetta with Butternut Squash and Cranberry Jam – This would be perfect to serve at Thanksgiving or even after when you might have some left- over butternut squash and cranberry sauce. The recipe has directions for cutting and prepping butternut squash, making your own herbed goat cheese and cranberry sauce which would be amazing if you have the time. However, you could take some shortcuts and buy the squash already cubed as well as cranberry sauce and herbed goat cheese. Whichever way you make it, I know it will be amazing!
  • Horse Radish Beef Bruschetta – This really couldn’t be any easier! Just buy some deli roast beef, mix up a simple horse radish sauce, add a few other ingredients like chopped green onion and cracked black pepper and you are good to go!

There are many more mouth-watering recipes for bruschetta on this site. To view, click here.

– Becky Lynn is a writer for EllisDownHome.com. She and her husband Bob enjoy spending time with their 8 grandchildren and traveling. Becky loves cranking up the music and heading to the kitchen to try out new recipes or cook for an upcoming party. She is passionate about continuing to be a life-long learner!

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