Beyond Tomatoes and Basil: The Best 5 Ways to Serve Bruschetta

While caprese-style fixings — tomatoes, basil and mozzarella — atop bruschetta may make a tried-and-true appetizer, these two-bite toasts can indeed come together with myriad other flavors and ingredients. For Ina Garten, that means a mix of sweet bell peppers and the bold richness of Gorgonzola cheese, while Giada De Laurentiis combines shrimp and arugula for a wow-worthy presentation that’s deceptively simply to pull off. Get their recipes below, plus three other must-try favorites, including a sweet dessert toast; perhaps best of all, each of these go-to recipes is easy to make in a hurry.

Bruschetta with Peppers and Gorgonzola (pictured above)
Ina admits that the addition of sugar in her savory starter may be surprising, but she promises, “It really gives [the peppers] a really nice caramel color and flavor, and you’ll never notice it.” She rounds out the dish with melty Gorgonzola cheese.

Bruschetta with Shrimp, Tarragon and Arugula
Thanks to Giada’s impressive toasts, entertaining just got a lot easier. She mixes the tender shallot-laced shrimp with mascarpone for richness, while relying on peppery arugula for bright freshness.

Bruschetta with Prosciutto, Ricotta and Arugula
It takes only a handful of ingredients to turn out Ted Allen’s 20-minute bruschetta, featuring a crunchy baguette base and fuss-free toppings of creamy ricotta and salty prosciutto. If you don’t have prosciutto on hand, Ted notes, you can use any other kind of cured pork, like coppa or speck.

Grilled Asparagus Bruschetta
By grilling sourdough slices and then rubbing them with sliced garlic, Jeff Mauro ensures the bread absorbs just enough garlic to offer a bold punch of flavor, but not so much that its raw taste is overwhelming. For texture, he adds tangy goat cheese and smoky grilled asparagus.

Strawberry Bruschetta
Who says bruschetta has to be savory? For a simple and surprisingly healthy dessert, Giada tops toasted thick-cut white bread with a smear of butter, plus sweetened strawberries for a seasonal treat.

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