Shrimp Bruschetta

I am a Carbivore. That's right, a carbivore. What does this mean? Basically, I would be content with eating solely breads/pastas/potatoes for every single meal. However, I do know that eating a diet that is made up of only breads and pastas isn't highly recommended by health professionals, so it's necessary to mix things up once in a while =)

On an impulse, I bought a french baguette the other day and didn't really know what to do with it. I suppose I could have just torn off bits and pieces of it until it was all gone, but I thought I should put it to a better use.  I remembered that one of my roommates made really great bruschetta a while back, so I thought I would give it a try. I've also been on a huge shrimp kick lately, so this recipe was perfect for both my bread and shrimp obsessions.

Shrimp Bruschetta

From Better Homes and Gardens

1 tablespoon olive oil

1 tablespoon fresh chives

1 tablespoon fresh basil

1 tablespoon lemon juice

1 clove garlic, minced

1 cup seeded and chopped roma tomatoes

6 ounces peeled, deveined, cooked shrimp

½ cup chopped red onion

1 loaf baguette-style French bread

Salt and pepper

Shredded mozzarella (optional)

mmm....shrimp

In a medium bowl stir together olive oil, chives, basil, lemon juice, and garlic. Add tomato, onion, and shrimp; toss to coat. Season to taste with salt and pepper.

There are a couple ways to enjoy bruschetta. You can serve it warm or cold. This time I simply sliced up my delicious baguette and served it cold. However, if you want to add another layer of flavor you can use melted cheese. Simply line a baking sheet with tin foil, slice up your bread, spoon some of the mixture on to each slice, sprinkle with cheese (mozzarella would be a good choice), and stick them under the broiler for about 5 minutes. The cheese will melt, the bread will crisp up, and you will have one absolutely delightful dish! 

This dish couldn’t be more simple to prepare and to serve to friends for a gathering. Clearly, the dish is also perfectly acceptable to enjoy on your own. However, I strongly recommend halving the recipe if you have a small group. Also, if you aren't a fan of shrimp, you can easily substitute crab, or leave out the seafood all together and add an extra cup of chopped tomatoes. 

Enjoy!

Danielle