BBQ Bruschetta with Balsamic Glaze and Fresh Garden Herbs

Bruschetta is one of the easiest and delicious appetizer that goes is amazing in summer when all of the ingredients are fresh from the garden, but having said that it will work just fine anytime of the year with good quality store bought items.

Bruschetta can be made many different ways but I find that there are NONE better or more fun then doing them on the BBQ !!!!!. This recipe is easy enough that you can make this while entertaining people on the back patio and you can use a small portion of the BBQ so what ever else you are cooking can be done at the same time no problem.

BBQ'ing bruschetta gives the bread more of a char that you just cant replicate in the oven and adds a bit of smokiness to the finished product.

Prep Time - 10 minutes

Cooking time - 5 minutes

**Exact amounts will vary based on how many pieces you are making so adjust as needed**

Ingredients:

1 fresh french baguette
A handful of fresh cherry tomatoes diced (about 1 cherry tomato per slice)
A nice chunk of feta crumbled
1 tsp Herb de provence or Italion Seasoning
2-3 fresh mint leaves sliced thin
6-10 fresh sweet basil leaves sliced thin
1/2 tsp lemon zest
Olive oil to taste and to toast ( for this use a good quality cold pressed olive oil)
Salt and Pepper to takes
1 large clove of garlic to rub bread with
Balsamic glaze to finish

Step 1: Toppings Preparation

Topping prep is fast and easy. this can be done inside or outside beside the grill.

Preheat a section of your grill medium low

Topping materials

Cherry tomatoes (1 diced tomato per slice)
Feta - 2 -3 TBSP crumbled
1 TSP herb seasoning - Herb de Provence or Italian
2-3 mint leaves
1/2-1 TSP lemon zest
6-10 basil leaves
1 TBSP olive oil
Salt and Pepper

**** You will not need much salt as the feta is salty, add a little and taste before adding more. Add lots of pepper it goes well with the other flavors.

Combine all above ingredients into small bowl, add some olive oil and mix. This can be done a head of time which will only mike the finished product more flavorful.

Then slice your baguette on a slight diagonal to produce a longer slice to allow for more of the tomato feta topping to be place on top.

**Don't cut the bread to thin or you risk having a pice that is too dry after grilling and could fall apart.**

Step 2: Grillng and Garlic

Now its time to take this bruschetta recipe and kick it up a notch. Head out to the grill and get grilling.

Place all the cut pieces of bread directly over the heat on your BBQ. Press them down and don't be afraid to have the bread pick up any left over taste from previous meals. You want to get the bread toasted enough that it becomes rough but on only 1 side

Do not flip the bread we are only toasting 1 side. This is essential to having a not overly toasted finished product that falls apart. After the bread is rough enough take the peeled clove of garlic and gently but firmly rub it all over each piece of bread. the garlic will slowly get worn off onto the bread coating each piece with the perfect amount of fresh garlic flavour.

Next after each piece is coated in garlic drizzle them with olive oil and grill again on the same side as before. Turn the heat up slightly and grill them until you have a rich golden brown. see photos for perfect doneness.

if everything was done properly then you should have 1 well toasted side and 1 that is a bit softer and chewy. this will give the finished protect a beautiful contrast in bite texture and taste.

Step 3: Top Drizzel and Serve

Okay the fun part

With a small spoon add the topping mixture to the pieces of bread. I usually start with small portions for each then once all the toasted pieces have some of the topping them I go back and use what ever is remaining.

After all the pieces have been topped with the filling drizzle some balsamic glaze all over them giving then a 110% flavor boost.

Arrange them how ever you want, if you have some edible flowers if would recommend using some as the colour smell and look of this dish lend well to being plated with a fancy touch.

In the one picture the yellow flowers are cucumber flowers from the garden.

Hope you enjoyed and I hope you try this simple and delicious BBQ Bruschetta recipe.

Feel free to vote if you like it

Cheers