Sharing my pesto bruschetta with fresh mozzarella & balsamic syrup! A family favorite that never fails to be made in the summertime.
Every summer, my family and I plant a garden with fresh herbs and vegetables. There’s nothing like having produce out in your backyard. You have a constant supply all summer long, and you get to use food right from the ground in your cooking. We tend to get an abundance of basil and mint each year, so I was inspired to use these herbs in a pesto.
Pesto is one of my favorite things to make. It’s a classic, yet has so many possible variations. It originated in Italy and traditionally consists of basil, pine nuts, Parmesan cheese, garlic and olive oil. All of these flavors are found in my recipe, but I twist it up with fresh mint and a little parsley. I add lemon juice and zest for a bright, acidic bite, and finish it off with some honey. The honey adds a sweetness that works really well with the other ingredients.
The perfect combination? Pesto bruschetta! Rich pesto, crunchy bread, and soft, creamy mozzarella cheese. The flavors and textures of these three components blend together in a mouthwatering bite of bruschetta.
And for an extra touch of indulgence, I reduce balsamic vinegar into a luscious syrup to spoon over the top.
I hope you absolutely love this pesto bruschetta. It’s one of my most loved recipes to make and always adds a little brightness to my kitchen. Enjoy!
PrintPesto Bruschetta with Fresh Mozzarella & Balsamic Syrup
pesto bruschetta topped with fresh mozzarella & sweet balsamic glaze
servings: 4-6
Ingredients
Balsamic Syrup
- 1 ½ cups balsamic vinegar
- 1 tbsp sugar
- 1 tbsp honey
Pesto
- 2 cups basil leaves
- 1 cup mint leaves
- ¾ cup parsley leaves
- ¼ cup + 2 tbsp pine nuts
- ½ cup + 3 tbsp grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 large clove of garlic, peeled and roughly chopped
- 1 tbsp lemon juice
- 1 tbsp lemon zest
- 2 tbsp honey
- ¼ cup olive oil
- ¼ tsp salt
Bread
- 1 baguette
- olive oil
- 3 balls of fresh mozzarella
Instructions
Balsamic Syrup
- In a small saucepan, bring the balsamic vinegar, sugar, and honey to a boil.
- Reduce to a simmer and cook down for about 20 minutes (see notes).
Pesto
- In a small sauté pan, toast the pine nuts on low heat for about 5 minutes (see notes).
- Meanwhile, combine the basil, mint, parsley, Parmesan cheese, garlic, lemon juice, lemon zest, honey, and salt in a food processor. When the pine nuts have cooled, add those in as well.
- Pulse the mixture until all of the ingredients are finely chopped. Slowly drizzle the olive oil into the food processor as it runs. Process until the pesto is fully incorporated and smooth.
Bread
- Cut the baguette into thick slices. Heat some olive oil over medium-high heat on a griddle or in a sauté pan, just enough to coat the bottom.
- Cook the bread until golden brown on each side (about 3 minutes per side).
To Serve
- Spread the pesto onto the toasted bread.
- Slice the mozzarella cheese and place one or two slices on each piece of bread. Season the cheese with salt.
- Drizzle with the balsamic syrup.
Notes
- Make sure to keep a close eye on the balsamic as it reduces. Once it boils, you want to cook it low and slow. It can burn very quickly!
- Also watch the pine nuts as they cook so they do not burn. Keep the burner on a very low setting. As soon as you smell a nutty flavor and the pine nuts are just slightly golden, remove them from the heat. You can alternatively toast them in the oven for 5-8 minutes at 375°F.
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This looks unbelievable. I will try this weekend
*From:* The Original Dish [mailto:comment-reply@wordpress.com] *Sent:* Tuesday, July 15, 2014 4:00 PM *To:* daveh@chicagofranchise.com *Subject:* [New post] Pesto Bruschetta with Fresh Mozzarella & Balsamic Syrup
theoriginaldish posted: ” Every summer, my family and I plant a garden with fresh herbs and vegetables. There’s nothing like having produce out in your backyard. You have a constant supply all summer long, and you get to use food right from the ground in your cooking. We tend to”