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Start Supper Right: Three Easy Italian Appetizers
Set out something worth reaching for before supper hits the table. Three new Tradition Spice mixes are working for you: Best Bruschetta, Italian Appetizer Mix, Taste of Tuscany, Bread Dip Mix, and Slice of Sicily, Bread Dip Mix. Pick your first recipe below, grab a loaf of good bread, and get ready to turn a few simple ingredients into the kind of appetizer that brings everybody into the kitchen.
There’s no need to save these for a dinner party. A plate of tomato bruschetta makes an ordinary pasta night feel a little more special. A shallow dish of seasoned olive oil gives hungry company something good to nibble while the main course finishes. And for the friend who loves feeding people, a bottle of one of these mixes paired with olive oil and a bread basket makes a thoughtful gift they can actually put to work.
Three jars, three good ways to start supper
Best Bruschetta brings tomato, garlic, onion, basil, and other savory herbs and spices to crisp toast and juicy tomatoes. Taste of Tuscany leans into garlic and fragrant herbs, with a gentle peppery finish. Slice of Sicily adds a deeper tomato and paprika character with smoky chipotle, and its salt-free blend lets you decide how much salt the finished dip needs.
For the bread dips, use fresh extra virgin olive oil and give the seasoning time to mingle before serving. Oil carries flavor, but dried pieces won’t turn into fresh herbs or disappear completely. A little texture belongs here. Stir just before serving, and taste with the bread you plan to put on the table.
Best Bruschetta: crisp toast meets juicy tomatoes
A good tomato bruschetta should have a little crunch, a little juice, and enough seasoning to make the next bite awfully tempting. This version uses fresh tomatoes to help soften the mix’s dried tomato and aromatic pieces, then piles everything onto golden baguette slices.
Fresh Tomato Bruschetta with Best Bruschetta
Featuring: Best Bruschetta, Italian Appetizer Mix
The starting ratio: 2 tablespoons mix + 2 cups diced tomatoes + 2 tablespoons olive oil for the topping.
Ingredients
- 2 cups finely diced ripe Roma tomatoes (about 1 pound before trimming); remove watery seed pockets
- 2 tablespoons Best Bruschetta, Italian Appetizer Mix
- 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil, divided
- 1 teaspoon red wine vinegar
- 1 tablespoon thinly sliced fresh basil
- 12 baguette slices, about ½ inch thick
- Fine salt, to taste, only if needed
Instructions
- Mix the topping. Combine the diced tomatoes, Best Bruschetta mix, 2 tablespoons olive oil, and red wine vinegar in a bowl. Stir well so the dried tomato, garlic, and herb pieces are coated.
- Give it a little time. Let the topping stand for 20 minutes, stirring once halfway through. The fresh tomato juices help soften the dried pieces while the flavors come together.
- Toast the bread. Preheat the oven to 400°F. Arrange the baguette slices on a baking sheet and brush the tops with the remaining 1 tablespoon olive oil. Bake for 8–10 minutes, until the edges are golden and the bread is crisp.
- Finish and serve. Stir the fresh basil into the tomatoes. Taste before adding salt because the mix already contains some. Spoon the topping onto the warm toasts with a slotted spoon and serve immediately.
Recipe notes
Keep the topping and toast separate until folks are ready to eat. A slotted spoon leaves excess tomato juice in the bowl instead of soaking the bread. If any dried pieces still feel firm after resting, give the topping another 5–10 minutes.
Serve it with
Set these out before baked pasta, roast chicken, or a big bowl of soup. Two toasts per person make a friendly first course without stealing supper’s thunder.
Taste of Tuscany: bring the bread-basket favorite home
You know that dish of garlicky olive oil that disappears before the entrées arrive? This is your excuse to make one at home. Taste of Tuscany keeps the preparation simple: stir, rest, tear the bread, and gather around.
Taste of Tuscany Olive Oil Bread Dip
Featuring: Taste of Tuscany, Bread Dip Mix
The starting ratio: 3 tablespoons mix + ½ cup extra virgin olive oil.
Ingredients
- 3 tablespoons Taste of Tuscany, Bread Dip Mix
- ½ cup extra virgin olive oil
- 8 ounces ciabatta bread, torn into dipping pieces
Instructions
- Stir it together. Combine Taste of Tuscany and the olive oil in a small bowl. Stir thoroughly, bringing any seasoning at the bottom up into the oil.
- Let the flavors mingle. Rest for 30 minutes at room temperature. Stir again halfway through. The garlic, herbs, and pepper need a little time to flavor the oil.
- Taste with bread. Dip a small piece of ciabatta into the mixture before adjusting it. Taste of Tuscany contains kosher salt, so begin without any extra salt. For a gentler dip, stir in more olive oil, 1 tablespoon at a time.
- Bring it to the table. Stir once more, then divide between two shallow dipping dishes. Serve with the torn ciabatta, warmed if you like. Give the oil an occasional stir so each piece of bread picks up some seasoning.
Recipe notes
This is a generous restaurant-style seasoning ratio. If your family likes a lighter dip, start with 2 tablespoons mix per ½ cup oil, rest, and taste with bread before adding the final tablespoon. Use olive oil you enjoy tasting on its own.
Serve it with
Serve before lasagna, grilled chicken, or roasted vegetables. Ciabatta’s open crumb catches the oil, while its crust is sturdy enough to scoop up the good bits.
Slice of Sicily: a little smoky personality
For folks who like a richer dipping oil, this one earns its place on the table. Tomato and paprika color the oil, garlic and herbs bring the savory side, and chipotle adds a smoky pepper note. Keep the bread plain and let the dip do the talking.
Slice of Sicily Smoky Tomato Bread Dip
Featuring: Slice of Sicily, Bread Dip Mix
The starting ratio: 3 tablespoons mix + ½ cup extra virgin olive oil; salt is optional.
Ingredients
- 3 tablespoons Slice of Sicily, Bread Dip Mix
- ½ cup extra virgin olive oil
- 8 ounces plain focaccia, cut into dipping pieces
- Fine salt, to taste (optional)
Instructions
- Mix the dip. Stir Slice of Sicily into the olive oil in a small bowl, breaking up any little clumps of the finer spices.
- Give it 30 minutes. Let the mixture stand at room temperature for 30 minutes. Stir halfway through so the tomato, garlic, herbs, and spices remain well distributed.
- Season to suit your table. Taste with a piece of focaccia. The mix is salt-free, but the bread may already be salty. If you want more salt, add a small pinch, stir well, and taste again. Stir in extra olive oil, 1 tablespoon at a time, if you prefer a lighter dip.
- Serve and stir. Pour into a shallow dipping bowl and serve with the focaccia, warmed if you like. Stir occasionally as you eat; the finer reddish spices naturally settle toward the bottom.
Recipe notes
Expect a warm rust-red tint from the tomato and paprika, with small garlic pieces and green herb flecks. This dip has a smoky pepper note from chipotle, so taste before adding any extra heat. For a milder starting point, use 2 tablespoons mix and increase after resting.
Serve it with
Put this beside a bread basket before baked ziti, roasted fish, or grilled vegetables. Plain focaccia lets the smoky tomato flavor lead the way.
A gift that gets folks gathering
Some gifts look pretty on a shelf. These are made for the table. Pair a mix with a good bottle of olive oil, tuck in a small dipping dish, and add a fresh loaf when you deliver it. Include the recipe so the person opening it knows exactly where to start.
Keep a jar for your own pantry, too. When friends stop by or supper needs a strong opening act, it’s mighty handy to have an appetizer plan that starts with bread, a bowl, and a little Tradition.
Bruschetta Mix - Best Bruschetta, Italian Appetizer Seasoning
$14.50
Good bruschetta shouldn't require half the garden and an afternoon of chopping. Best Bruschetta, Italian Appetizer Mix brings tomato, basil, garlic, onion, oregano, parsley, and a whole mess of savory herbs and spices together in one jar, so you're always just… read more
Taste of Tuscany - Bread Dip Mix
$10.00
When at your favorite Italian restaurant, you know that little dish of seasoned olive oil that hits the table with warm bread and somehow disappears before anybody even looks at the menu? Now you can make it at home. Taste of… read more
Slice of Sicily - Bread Dip Mix
$13.75
Bread and olive oil are good. Bread and olive oil with a little Sicilian attitude are a whole lot better. Slice of Sicily, Bread Dip Mix brings garlic, tomato, paprika, basil, oregano, rosemary, thyme, and a touch of smoky chipotle together… read more
FAQs
Where did bruschetta originate, and what was its original purpose?
Bruschetta originated in ancient Italy, tracking its roots back to the Etruscans and ancient Rome, where olive farmers would toast slices of bread to sample the quality of their freshly pressed oil. The word itself comes from the Roman dialect verb bruscare, which means "to toast" or "to burn." It evolved as a practical, heartening way for rural laborers to preserve stale bread and make use of a plentiful local harvest.
What makes the region of Tuscany one of Italy's most famous destinations, and what is its capital?
Tuscany is renowned worldwide for its breathtaking landscapes of rolling hills, vineyards, and olive groves, as well as its immense artistic legacy as the birthplace of the Italian Renaissance. Located in central Italy, its capital city is Florence, which houses iconic masterpieces like Michelangelo's David and the Uffizi Gallery. The region is also celebrated globally for its culinary traditions and world-class wines, such as Chianti and Brunello di Montalcino.
What defines the unique identity of Sicily, and how does it differ from the rest of mainland Italy?
Sicily is distinguished by its distinct island identity, shaped by centuries of rule by diverse civilizations including the Greeks, Romans, Arabs, and Normans. This multicultural history sets it apart from the mainland through its unique dialect, a architecture found nowhere else in Italy, and a culinary tradition heavily influenced by North African and Middle Eastern flavors. As the largest island in the Mediterranean, its geography is also uniquely defined by rugged coastlines, ancient ruins, and the imposing presence of Mount Etna, Europe's most active volcano.
