Top up fun

Bruschettas are toasted in ovens. They are best complimented by wines. The crostini breads,much smaller and thinner,are grilled and thus a little harder. Crostini toppings are well cooked and mixed with cheese before the grill session. However,the toppings of the bruschetta, mainly comprising of raw tomatoes,capsicum,olive oil,garlic and oregano get a generous helping of raw cheese only after the completion of the entire cooking process. “The crostinis are more liberal in terms of sauces and spreads,” says Priya Phadke,country manager of Little Italy.

“These antipastis are believed to have originated in medieval Italy when peasants preferred eating on a bread base to a ceramic one,” reckons Raj Mehta,CMD of Little Italy group of restaurants which serves a variety of crostinis and the single authentic vegetarian bruschetta called the Bruschetta al Pomodoro with toppings of garlic,freshly chopped tomatoes and oregano. “The Crostini alla Ragusana,complimented with Italian mayonnaise,is the hot favourite among our customers,” adds Mehta. They are accompanied by a sprinkle of virgin oil garnish and a tinge of the pungent balsamic vinegar and an apt appetizer for all the dieting people with portions of carbohydrates,starch and protein.

Recipe

French-Canadian Caroline Audoir de-Valter,a self-confessed cooking fanatic,demonstrates four easy-to-concoct,yummilicious bruschettas.

What you need

Chopped tomatoes and onions

Garlic cloves (pounded)

Extra Virgin Olive Oil (any brand)

Black Olives

Spanish capers

Pickled gherkins (chopped)

Fake ham (yes they do exist!)

Salt and pepper to taste

Fresh herbs Bread (sliced or baguette)

The basic topping

Mix the chopped tomatoes,garlic,salt and pepper,with a dash of olive oil. Top it with fresh herbs – oregano or fresh basil leaves. Voila!

Onion+Capers

Spoon in the usual suspects with some chopped onions and lightly crushed Spanish capers. It’s a tangy twist to the basic topping.

Gherkins meet Veggie ham

Pickled gherkins and other exotic items in the list here are easily available at all imported food stores and many supermarkets. Add the two ingredients to the basic mix. Top it up with some pious sage!

Black Olive and Cheese

Tangy tomato and tangier black olives – disciplined by olive oil and grated cheese. Need we say more?

Tips

*Toast the bread and top it up only when about to serve. Soggy bread,not fun!

*Refrigerate the topping mixes for about 30 minutes. The flavours mingle better.

*Rub a clove of garlic on the toasted bread. The subtle taste is beautiful!

*Swap bread with chappatis or even chips to make it more fun

*Other addition ideas – smoked salmon strips (with capers and onion); leftover chicken chunks

*Sprinkle a bit of olive oil on the final product. Lots of good fats here!