Description
Garlic & Cheese Tomato Toast is a deliciously simple Italian-inspired appetizer featuring crusty bread toasted with garlic and olive oil, topped with juicy cherry tomatoes, melted mozzarella, and Parmesan cheese. This savory snack is perfect for any occasion and comes together quickly with a crispy, golden base and rich, bubbling cheese.
Ingredients
Scale
For the Bread Base
- 4 slices of crusty bread (like sourdough or Italian)
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 2 cloves garlic (halved)
For the Toppings
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes (halved or sliced)
- 1/2 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1/2 tsp dried oregano or Italian seasoning
- Salt and black pepper to taste
- Fresh basil leaves (optional, for garnish)
Instructions
- Preheat and Prepare Bread: Preheat the oven to 400°F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Brush both sides of each bread slice with olive oil and place them on the baking sheet. Toast in the oven for 5–6 minutes until lightly golden.
- Garlic Rub: Remove the toasted bread from the oven and rub the cut sides of the garlic cloves onto the surface of each toast to infuse it with garlic flavor.
- Add Toppings: Top each toast with a layer of cherry tomatoes, then sprinkle with salt, black pepper, and dried oregano. Evenly distribute shredded mozzarella and grated Parmesan cheese over the tomatoes.
- Bake to Melt Cheese: Return the toasts to the oven and bake for another 7–9 minutes or until the cheese has melted and is bubbly.
- Optional Broil for Browning: For a golden-brown finish, broil the toasts for 1–2 minutes, watching closely to prevent burning.
- Garnish and Serve: Remove from the oven, garnish with fresh basil leaves if using, and serve the toasts warm.
Notes
- You can substitute cherry tomatoes with heirloom or sliced Roma tomatoes for variety.
- Add a pinch of red pepper flakes before baking to introduce some heat.
- Drizzle with balsamic glaze before serving for an extra layer of flavor.
