Tomato and Thai Basil Bruschetta (Low Carb)
Last updated on April 13th, 2024
Tomato and Thai Basil Bruschetta is a delicious appetizer, even for low-carb lifestyles.
Enjoy this quick and easy twist on a classic Italian dish, with fresh Roma tomatoes and Thai Basil adding a spicy kick.
Spoon the tomato topping over some toasted low-carb bread or burger buns.
low-carb, keto, gluten-free
| serving | carbs | fibre | net carbs |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 5.6g | 3.5g | 2.1g |
Tomato and Thai Basil Bruschetta (Low Carb)
This delicious Tomato and Thai Basil Bruschetta recipe transpired one day after my teen requested ‘toasted bread with the tomato topping.’
Right away, I knew she meant Bruschetta, an Italian toasted bread appetizer traditionally topped with a medley of ripe chopped tomatoes and onions drenched in olive oil and flavoured with garlic and sweet Italian Basil.
Luckily for my Bruschetta-craving teen, I had all the ingredients except the Italian Basil. However, that didn’t stop me from making this awesome twist to an Italian recipe. Since I often make Thai dishes at home, I used some leftover Thai basil leaves from when I made Thai Red Curry Shrimp a few nights ago.
Thai basil leaves are a little spicier than sweet Italian basil, and surprisingly, my teen did not care about the slight variation and was happy to dig right into flavourful servings of Thai Basil Bruschetta topping over toasted baguette slices.
I never refuse a serving (or two) of Bruschetta, so to make it lower in carbs, I substituted regular bread with slices of low-carb bread.
Why We Love Tomato and Thai Basil Bruschetta
Flavourful with a Kick!
Thai basil’s peppery and aniseed-like flavour sets it apart from sweet Italian basil, adding a delightful twist to this classic bruschetta recipe.
Fresh Ingredients
Fresh, ripe Roma tomatoes with a tangy yet sweet flavour perfectly complement Thai basil, which refreshes the palate before a main meal.
Relish in a Bruschetta Craving
Choosing low-carb toast or keto bread is a great way to maintain a low-carb diet. It also provides a delicious crispy base for topping it off with garlic-infused, ripe tomatoes to satisfy a bruschetta craving.
Easy and Quick Recipe
With minimal preparation, prepare a delightful Tomato and Thai Basil Bruschetta platter within 20 minutes.
What is Bruschetta?
Bruschetta pronounced Bru-sket-ta looks very pretty when individual servings are placed together on a large platter.
In Roman terminology (that’s right, this is an Italian dish), the meaning of Bruschetta refers to the Italian word bruscare, which means ‘to roast over coals’.
Hence, in Bruschetta, fresh slices of bread are toasted over a hot grill until crispy. After which, the toasted bread slices are rubbed with garlic cloves and drizzled with extra-virgin olive oil.
In addition, freshly chopped juicy tomatoes and herby basil is spooned over the crisp bread to serve as a starter.
Low-carb Bread Alternatives for Bruschetta (6 Ways)
Since Bruschetta typically refers to the crispy baked slices of bread, it doesn’t mean you must leave it out of your low-carb/keto lifestyle forever!
If you’re living a low-carb/keto lifestyle, you may think Bruschetta is off the menu due to its crispy bread base. However, low-carb substitutions still allow you to enjoy the tomato topping using toasted low-carb alternatives. In this Tomato and Thai Basil recipe, I use slices of low-carb bread to create a tasty, guilt-free Bruschetta.
Here are 6 easy bases to layer with Tomato and Thai Basil Bruschetta topping:
- Use leftover store-bought low-carb bread slices or burger buns for Bruschetta when you’ve run out of burgers.
- Make Keto Tahini Bread, cut it into slices and toast them for serving with this bruschetta topping.
- Low-carb tortillas cut into strips and baked until crisp. Work well to scoop the tomato and Thai basil mixture.
- Baked Zucchini halves (cut lengthways) are delicious topped with the bruschetta topping for a complete non-bread variation.
- Make it a meal by spooning delicious bruschetta topping over cooked proteins such as chicken, pork and fish.
- Grilled portobello mushrooms also serve as a nutritious base for Bruschetta topping.
Ingredient Notes
Roma tomatoes – firm ripe tomatoes that have fewer seeds work well. However, if your tomatoes aren’t ripe enough, let them ripen at room temperature for a few days.
Garlic Cloves – crush the cloves or dice them finely to blend in easily with the main ingredients.
Yellow Onion – finely dice the onions or omit them completely if you prefer not to add them.
Fresh Thai Basil leaves – finely chop the Thai basil leaves and keep some whole leaves aside for garnishing.
Grapeseed Oil – for a balanced taste, consider using a neutral oil that won’t dominate the garlic’s savoury flavour. Alternatively, you could opt for extra virgin olive oil or avocado oil.
Balsamic Vinegar – adds a sweet acidic taste to the tomato topping.
Salt & Pepper – is merely added for taste since the balsamic flavour can give a saltish flavour.
Low-carb Bread Slices – I like the Carbonaut brand (Costco), and it holds the Bruschetta topping quite well once it is toasted. Alternatively, if you are not on a low-carb diet, slice a baguette into half-inch slices and toast them in the oven until crisp.
How to make Tomato and Thai Basil Bruschetta
Chop the Tomatoes
Slice the Roma tomatoes lengthways using a serrated knife, then cut each slice into thin strips for easy dicing. Line up the strips and dice them into small pieces.
Make the Tomato topping
Toss all the Bruschetta toppings into a bowl and mix all the flavours thoroughly until blended well. Let the Tomato and Thai basil topping sit to infuse the flavours while you prepare the bread slices.
Toast the Bread Slices
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
Cut the low-carb bread slices in half and lay them on a parchment-lined baking sheet. If you use burger buns, open up the tops and bottoms, then slice them in halves to make four pieces. Slice a non-low-carb baguette into half-inch thick pieces.
Bake the bread slices on the middle shelf in the oven for 5-6 minutes or until crisp.
Assemble the Bruschetta
Optional Step: To prepare the bread, gently rub each slice with a garlic clove and lightly drizzle with oil. However, I skip this step for this Tomato and Thai Basil Bruschetta recipe as it already includes garlic. When assembling the platter, I prefer to drizzle the juice from the tomato and Thai basil topping.
Lay the toasted slices of bread on a platter, and top each toast with a spoonful or two of the tomato and Thai Basil topping. Garnish the platter with a few Thai Basil leaves.
Carbs and Servings in this Recipe
| 1 | 5.6g | 3.5g | 2.1g |
| serving | carbs | fibre | net carbs |
This recipe makes 12 to 16 servings using low-carb bread slices by Carbonaut that I buy in bulk from Costco. One serving size of this Bruschetta recipe consists of half a slice of bread, toasted and topped with 1-2 tablespoons of the tomato and Thai basil mixture.
Each serving is just 2.1 g of net carbs which allows you to control your carb intake while you enjoy eating an appetizer which is otherwise usually higher in carbs when used with regular bread made with flour.
Best Tomatoes for Bruschetta Topping
Did you know that tomatoes are an excellent source of lycopene, a powerful antioxidant that can help protect against certain types of cancer and sun damage to the skin?
Are Roma Tomatoes low in carbs?
Yes, Roma tomatoes and all tomato varieties are low-carb. One whole Roma tomato has 2.4 grams of carbs. Since tomatoes do not have a high sugar content, they are suitable to eat on a low-carb or diabetic diet.
Whether you have Roma tomatoes or any other variety, ensure they are ripe and not too juicy.
Choose firm tomatoes with fewer seeds for best results, although any tomato during peak season will be equally delicious. Here’s a quick list of suitable tomato varieties that make delicious bruschetta.
- Roma tomatoes – follow the easy steps to cut them for Bruschetta above.
- Cherry tomatoes – cut them in half or quarters.
- Tomatoes on the vine – remove the seeds to prevent the bruschetta topping from becoming watery.
- Grape tomatoes – cut them into halves or quarters like cherry tomatoes.
- Beefsteak Tomatoes – dice them like Roma tomatoes.
- Cocktail Tomatoes – cut them into quarters or halves.
Ways to use up Leftovers
Looking for a way to use up your leftover Bruschetta topping?
My family usually devours the bruschetta quickly, but there have been instances where I’ve made an excess of the topping, leaving me with insufficient toasted bread. Here are some ways to incorporate leftover tomato and Thai basil topping into a new meal to add delicious flavour.
- Layer spoonfuls of Bruschetta topping over grilled or parmesan chicken for Chicken Bruschetta.
- Mix a boring salad and toss some bruschetta toppings for a refreshing starter.
- Cutting avocados in half and removing the stones is an easy and nutritious way to serve leftover bruschetta topping.
- Topping a low-carb pizza base like this Broccoli Pizza Crust is a great way to use it as a base for bruschetta.
- Toss the bruschetta topping mixture into Spaghetti Squash for a flavourful, garlicky dish.
How to Serve and Store Tomato and Thai Basil Bruschetta
Serving
To serve this delicious appetizer, top the toasted bread slices with a spoonful of tomato and Thai basil topping. Arrange them on a platter for your guests to enjoy.
To prevent the bread from getting soggy, serve extra slices of toasted bread on the side in a separate bowl alongside the topping. Your guests are sure to love this tasty treat.
Storing
The Bruschetta topping and the toasted bread can be prepared in advance and stored separately in the refrigerator for a few days until you are ready to assemble the Bruschetta.
Store the topping in an air-tight container in the fridge for up to 2-3 days but keep in mind that it becomes watery after a day.
However, it is best to let the tomato and Thai basil topping reach room temperature since the oils and the balsamic vinegar sometimes solidify while it sits in the fridge. Stir the mixture a few times before layering it over your preferred base.
Useful Notes and Tips
- Ripe tomatoes with fewer seeds work well for this recipe since they contain less water.
- Since the recipe includes garlic, rubbing a garlic clove on the toasted bread slices is optional and still tastes delicious.
- Adding less salt to the recipe will prevent the tomato mixture from becoming too watery.
- Use Balsamic vinegar to add flavour and tartness
- Marinate the bruschetta topping for 10 minutes or longer to allow the garlicky, spicy Thai basil flavours to infuse.
- To prevent the bread from becoming soggy, it is best to serve the Bruschetta immediately instead of leaving it on the counter too long.
- The Tomato and Thai Basil Bruschetta topping can be served on warm or cold toasted bread.
- Make this recipe your own by adding red pepper flakes, cayenne, herbs or cheese to the topping.
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Tomato and Thai Basil Bruschetta (Low Carb)
INGREDIENTS
- 4-5 Roma Tomatoes - diced
- 3 Garlic Cloves - crushed
- ¼ Yellow Onion (optional) - finely diced
- 5-6 Fresh Thai Basil leaves - or Italian Basil
- 3 tbsp Grapeseed Oil - or Olive oil / Avocado oil
- 1 tbsp Balsamic Vinegar - optional
- Salt & Pepper - to taste
- 6-8 Slices Low-Carb bread - or preferred low carb bread base
- 1 Baguette - if you're not doing low carb
- 1 Garlic Clove - whole for rubbing over toasted bread
INSTRUCTIONS
- Slice the Roma tomatoes lengthways using a serrated knife, then cut each slice into thin strips for easy dicing. Line up the strips and dice them into small pieces.
- Toss all the Bruschetta toppings into a bowl and mix all the flavours thoroughly until blended well. Let the Tomato and Thai basil topping sit to infuse the flavours while you prepare the bread slices.
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Cut the low-carb bread slices in half and lay them on a parchment-lined baking sheet. If you use burger buns, open up the tops and bottoms, then slice them in halves to make four pieces. Slice a non-low-carb baguette into half-inch thick pieces.
- Bake the bread slices on the middle shelf in the oven for 5-6 minutes or until crisp.
- Optional Step: To prepare the toasted bread for topping, gently rub each slice with a garlic clove and lightly drizzle with oil. However, I skip this step for this Tomato and Thai Basil Bruschetta recipe as it already includes garlic. When assembling the platter, I prefer to drizzle the juice from the tomato and Thai basil topping.Lay the toasted slices of bread on a platter, and top each toast with a spoonful or two of the tomato and Thai Basil topping. Garnish the platter with a few Thai Basil leaves.
RECIPE NOTES
Useful Notes and Tips When Making this Recipe
- Ripe tomatoes with fewer seeds work well for this recipe since they contain less water.
- Since the recipe includes garlic, rubbing a garlic clove on the toasted bread slices is optional and still tastes delicious.
- Adding less salt to the recipe will prevent the tomato mixture from becoming too watery.
- Use Balsamic vinegar to add flavour and tartness
- Marinate the bruschetta topping for 10 minutes or longer to allow the garlicky, spicy Thai basil flavours to infuse.
- It is best to serve the Bruschetta immediately to prevent the bread from becoming soggy instead of leaving it on the counter too long.
- The Tomato and Thai Basil Bruschetta topping can be served on warm or cold toasted bread.
- Make this recipe your own by adding red pepper flakes, cayenne, herbs or cheese to the topping.