Giada De Laurentiis's Easy Tomato Toast Is the Best Thing I’ve Eaten All Week

Shockingly, this recipe uses canned tomatoes.

Simply Recipes / Getty Images / Kat Lieu

Since I started working from home as a cookbook author and food writer, I've been on the hunt for quick, satisfying meals I can whip up between deadlines. When I saw Giada De Laurentiis's ultra-simple, five-ingredient tomato toast recipe, I was intrigued—and not to mention, hungry.

In a recent TikTok video, Giada shares her affection for this toast, which she calls pane e pomodoro (Italian for bread and tomato). It’s a dish she grew up eating and loving. She says, “I grew up with this dish. So simple, so delish. This is summer!”

I couldn't agree more. This recipe pairs crisp, garlicky toast with (gasp!) canned tomatoes, so you can have a taste of late summer any time of year.

Simply Recipes / Kat Lieu

How To Make Giada’s Pane e Pomodoro

For this recipe, you'll need whole canned tomatoes, olive oil, garlic, and a good loaf of Italian bread or sourdough. Finish it off with the fresh herb of your choice; Giada uses oregano or lemon-oregano salt, but I love adding fresh basil from my garden for a vibrant pop of green.

Giada toasts a slice of Italian bread, then rubs it all over with fresh garlic; she says this move helps the bread soak up all the garlicky essence and flavor. Then, she drizzles good olive oil over the toast before slathering the slice with canned whole tomatoes.

In her video, Giada finishes this toast with lemon-oregano salt and takes a big bite, and you can see her inner child light up!

Simply Recipes / Kat Lieu

My Tips for Making Giada's Tomato Toast

Being a recipe developer, I took some liberties and changed up the steps to make the tomato toast my way, with the same ingredients. First, I sliced fresh garlic and laid it over two slices of sourdough toast. Then I drizzled olive oil over the bread and toasted it until golden brown and crispy.

After removing the bread from the toaster oven, my kitchen smelled so garlicky and good. I spread canned tomato over the toast, drizzled on a bit more olive oil, and seasoned it with salt and pepper. For my final touch, I garnished the toast with fresh basil.

As for variations, if you’re a cheese lover like me, add some grated Parmigiano Reggiano. I imagine you could also make a pizza-style toast by assembling all the layers (toast, garlic, olive oil, canned tomatoes, and cheese) and heating it in the toaster oven until melty.

This recipe easily earned a spot in my regular lunch rotation. Thank you, Giada, for reminding me that sometimes the simplest dishes—made with pantry staples and a little love—are the most satisfying.

Get Recipe with Title: Giada De Laurentiis’s Pane e Pomodoro

from Simply Recipes | Recipes and cooking advice for home cooks https://ift.tt/nRrbqtc