Vegan Bruschetta (5 Ways!)
This post may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Please read my disclosure.This vegan bruschetta recipe is a twist on a classic Italian dish. It has a mixture of sweet tomato, crunchy zucchini, and creamy white beans that sit on top of a whole wheat baguette, topped with fresh herbs for a finishing touch. This simple recipe is great as an appetizer, light lunch, or side dish, and comes in 5 variations too!
I love a good bruschetta โ itโs one of my favorite appetizers! Usually, itโs served as a starter in an Italian restaurant, but this easy vegan bruschetta with fresh vegetables and white beans is hearty enough to be a main dish.
This is one of those recipes you can change up based on whatever ingredients you have since pretty much anything will taste great on a big piece of crusty bread!
Itโs also super versatile: you can make it as vegetarian appetizers for a party, or as a main dish for your family. You can use any vegetables you have on hand, and any canned beans that are in your pantry. If you donโt have fresh tomatoes, you can use diced tomatoes. The options are endless, but it will turn out delicious and perfectly seasoned every time!
This vegan tomato bruschetta recipe is the perfect appetizer for any occasion, but it will also become one of your favorite go to Italian meals on nights youโre just not sure what to make for dinner!
๐ฉ๐ฝโ๐ณ Why Youโll Love Vegan Bruschetta
- Versatile: This is a fabulous appetizer for any time of the year.
- Vegan: Itโs a classic bruschetta recipe with a vegan twist!
- Wholesome: This recipe uses only fresh ingredients that are healthy and nutritious.
- Dairy-Free: Thereโs no need for modifications to accommodate a dairy-free diet.
- Easy: This simple recipe can be made quickly, and cleanup is a breeze.
- Kid-Friendly: Kids will enjoy this bruschetta because itโs kind of like a little pizza! Itโs got a nice Italian flavor, and the veggies are sautรฉed to a soft consistency that makes it really easy for little ones to chew and enjoy!
Latest Recipe Video!
๐ฅ Ingredients For Vegan Bruschetta On Crostini
This easy vegan bruschetta recipe calls for basic ingredients that can be found at your local grocery store or farmers market! I recommend buying organic ingredients (for both the bread and the vegan bruschetta toppings) whenever possible.
- Whole Wheat French Baguette: Use a good quality whole wheat baguette to increase the fiber content. You can use any kind of bread you want, french bread, sourdough or this buckwheat sourdough bread, or ciabatta would all work well. I just recommend a hearty bread thatโs whole grain!
- Vegetables: Red pepper, red onion, garlic, zucchini, and eggplant are sautรฉed in olive oil.
- Cannellini Beans and Diced Tomatoes: Youโll need just one can of each.
- Spices: For the best flavor, I recommend a combination of Italian seasoning, salt, and crushed red pepper.
- Fresh Basil Leaves: Fresh basil makes is a great garnish and adds bright flavor.
- Optional: Vegan Mozzarella or Vegan Parmesan Cheese: These ingredients are totally optional, but they do give this easy bruschetta an authentic appeal. If you want to skip the vegan cheese altogether, you can sprinkle it with a bit of nutritional yeast to get that โcheesyโ flavor.
๐ฒ Ingredient Substitutions
Scroll to the bottom of the post to the recipe card for complete measurements and instructions.
- Beans: You can substitute dry beans for the canned variety โ just prepare them as usually would before adding them to the recipe. If you donโt have white beans use any other canned beans or chickpeas as a substitute.
- Fresh Veggies: This is a great recipe to use up any fresh veggies or fresh produce you have on hand. Green bell pepper, orange bell pepper, and squash all work well, too.
- Spice: Use your own preferred spice blend.
- Different Types of Tomatoes: While we used canned tomatoes, any type of fresh tomato will work well in this recipe. Choose from beefsteak, cherry tomatoes, Roma tomatoes, or whatever looks best and fresh when you visit the grocery store. Some of the best tomatoes Iโve found are at the farmerโs markets, and the best time of year to enjoy tomatoes is in the summer!
๐ช How To Make Vegan Bruschetta
Hereโs how to make this easy vegan bruschetta recipe. For more detailed instructions and nutrition facts, see the recipe card below.
Chop and sautรฉ all the veggies: Heat a large pan over medium heat. Drizzle olive oil in before adding the red onion, red pepper, zucchini, eggplant, and fresh garlic. Heat until the veggies are cooked through.
Add the rest of the topping ingredients: Add the white beans, Roma tomatoes, Italian spices, salt, and pepper to taste. Stir until combined and heated through. If you are using vegan cheese, stir it in right when the tomato mixture is almost done cooking, and let it warm for 1-2 minutes until it melts.
Warm your bread: Using a sharp knife, slice the baguette into thick slices. Toast the bread on a grill pan or in the toaster oven until slightly crispy and golden brown.
Assemble your bruschetta: Top each of the baguette slices with the white bean mixture, some fresh ripe tomatoes, chopped fresh basil, a drizzle of balsamic vinegar, and a sprinkle of sea salt.
๐ญ Expert Tips
- Pick the freshest bread: Use a fresh whole-wheat baguette for best results!
- Make the topping ahead of time: If making in advance store the topping in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
- If you use fresh tomatoes, remove the liquid! Remove the seeds and salt the tomatoes before adding them to your bruschetta mixture so they donโt make the bread too soggy.
- To ensure your bread isnโt soggy, donโt forget to toast or grill it properly and donโt cut it too thin! 1/2 inch thick is the perfect thickness to ensure perfect bruschetta.
- For more flavor, cut a garlic clove in half and rub it lightly on one side of each bread slice. This imparts a subtle garlic flavor without overwhelming the other ingredients.
- Timing is key! Top the toasted or grilled bread with the veggie mixture just before serving. You want to maintain the crispness of the bread.
๐ Variations
I love the bright flavors of the fresh veggies on this version, but you can make other types of bruschetta, too. Thereโs a seemingly endless list of what to put on bruschetta! Here are some other bruschetta ideas:
- Olive Bruschetta: If you love the brininess of olives, add some chopped kalamata olives to the tomato mixture! Or try spreading a tapenade on the toasted bread before adding the vegetable topping.
- Vegan Caprese Bruschetta: Instead of the white bean bruschetta topping, use a simple combination of heirloom tomatoes, sea salt, cracked black pepper, and fresh basil leaves with a balsamic glaze or balsamic reduction drizzled over top. Feel free to add some vegan mozzarella too!
- Vegan Bruschetta Pasta: Instead of serving the bruschetta topping mixture over crusty bread, try tossing it with some whole wheat pasta or chickpea pasta. Mix in some olive oil or marinara sauce, too.
- Mexican Bruschetta: Instead of fresh basil, use cilantro; instead of Italian seasoning, use taco seasoning, and instead of tomatoes, use tomato salsa!
- Greek-Style Vegetarian Bruschetta: Mix a little lemon juice into the vegetable mixture and sprinkle some feta and extra oregano on top. Keep it vegan by using vegan feta.
๐ฝ Serving Suggestions
Bruschetta can be served either warm or cold, depending on the various toppings of your choice. This recipe is served warm, but some of our variations above can be served cold with warm toasted bread.
If youโre wondering what to eat with bruschetta, there are a number of dishes you can pair it with โ or you can enjoy it all on its own!
- Salads: For a light meal, serve the bruschetta with a simple side salad, keto Greek salad or gluten free pasta salad.
- Pasta: Instead of plain bread, pair this bruschetta with vegetarian pesto pasta, vegan rasta pasta, or this vegetarian pasta bake.
- Soups: Try serving this simple bruschetta alongside Italian chickpea soup or garbanzo bean soup.
๐ Dietary Adaptations
Gluten-Free Bruschetta: Substitute a gluten-free baguette for the bread to make this veggie bruschetta recipe gluten-free!
๐ซ Storage Directions
You can make this recipe up to 3 days in advance. However, do not place the tomato and bean mixture on the toasted baguette until youโre ready to serve, or the bread will become soggy.
To Refrigerate: Once the mixture comes to room temperature, place it in an airtight container or resealable plastic bag and store it for up to 3 days. Assemble and toast the bruschetta fresh when youโre ready to serve.
To Freeze: You can freeze the topping for up to 3 months in a resealable plastic freezer bag. You can also slice the bread and freeze it separately. Thaw the topping in the refrigerator and warm on the stovetop or in the microwave, and toast the bread in the oven or toaster oven when youโre ready to serve.
โRecipe FAQs
The difference between a crostini and bruschetta has to do with the type of bread that is used and the way that is sliced. Bruschetta is made with toasted slices of bread that are cut wide. Often a Sourdough is used. Crostini is made by toasting smaller slices of bread like a baguette.ย
Bruschetta is usually topped with marinated toppings such as chopped fresh tomatoes, onions and basil.ย Crostini is topped with spreads such as jams, goat cheese, and tapenades.ย Technically you could consider this recipe a cross between a crostini and bruschetta since it uses a baguette like a crostini, and the marinated topping like bruschetta.
Classic bruschetta is a simple dish of garlic-rubbed, toasted bread thatโs topped with fresh, diced tomatoes, salt, and pepper before being drizzled with high-quality extra virgin olive oil. Sometimes, it is topped with cheese as well.
For the best bruschetta, I recommend using a hearty bread that wonโt get soggy once you add the toppings. Baguettes, a good crusty whole grain bread, sourdough, or even ciabatta will all work well.
Many bruschetta recipes call for cheese, which makes it a dish that isnโt vegan-friendly. However, by eliminating the cheese and using vegan crostini (bread that has no animal products like eggs or butter), you can make bruschetta a vegan dish.
It depends on how you make it! Traditional bruschetta is typically made with thin slices of white bread, olive oil, herbs, and tomatoes. The tomatoes and olive oil are nutrient-rich, but I wouldnโt say bruschetta is super healthy overall.
This vegan bruschetta, though, thanks to a few easy swaps, is super healthy for you for 3 reasons: 1) whole grain bread adds fiber to this dish and aids in digestion 2) adding lots of veggies add vitamins, nutrients, and antioxidants and 3) adding white beans to this bruschetta adds needed plant protein that makes this a complete meal!
๐ฅ More Healthy Vegan Recipes!
- Black Bean Quinoa Burgers
- Vegan Eggplant Parmesan
- Veggie Pigs In Blankets
- Vegan Quinoa Patties
- Gluten-Free Vegan Sausage Balls
- Vegetarian Baked Beans
- Vegan Arepas
- Southwestern Tofu Scramble
- Thai Basil Eggplant
- Chipotle Black Bean Burgers
- Healthy Vegan Pop Tarts
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๐ Recipe Card
๐ฅ Watch How to Make It
Vegan Bruschetta (5 Ways!)
Ingredients
- 1 red pepper diced
- 1 red onion diced
- 3-5 small zucchini chopped
- 1 small eggplant diced
- 5 cloves garlic minced
- 15 oz cannellini beans, rinsed and drained 1 can
- 15 oz stewed diced or crushed tomatoes with Italian spices 1 can
- 2 tsp dried Italian Seasoning
- 16 slices fresh whole wheat or whole grain bread
- salt & crushed red pepper to taste
- fresh basil or herbs of choice
Instructions
- Cut all of your veggies, and heat a large pan over medium heat
- Saute the red onion, red pepper, zucchini, eggplant and garlic in 2 tsp extra virgin olive oil, until the veggies are cooked through.
- Add the rest of the topping ingredients. Add the white beans, Roma tomatoes, Italian spices, salt and pepper to taste. Stir until combined and heated through. If you are using vegan cheese, stir it in right when the tomato mixture is almost done cooking, and let it warm for 1-2 minutes until it melts.
- Warm Your Bread: Chop the baguette into thick slices. Toast the bread on a grill pan or in the toaster oven until slightly crispy and golden brown.
- Assemble your bruschetta. Top each of the baguette slices with the white bean mixture, some fresh ripe tomatoes, chopped fresh basil, a drizzle of balsamic vinegar, and a sprinkle of sea salt.
Notes
- Pick the freshest bread: Use a fresh whole-wheat baguette for best results!
- Make the topping ahead of time: If making in advance store the topping in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
- If you use fresh tomatoes, remove the liquid! Remove the seeds and salt the tomatoes before adding them to your bruschetta mixture so they donโt make the bread too soggy.
- To ensure your bread isnโt soggy, donโt forget to toast or grill it properly and donโt cut it too thin! 1/2 inch thick is the perfect thickness to ensure perfect bruschetta.
- For more flavor, cut a garlic clove in half and rub it lightly on one side of each bread slice. This imparts a subtle garlic flavor without overwhelming the other ingredients.
- Timing is key! Top the toasted or grilled bread with the veggie mixture just before serving. You want to maintain the crispness of the bread.
- Olive Bruschetta: If you love the brininess of olives, add some chopped kalamata olives to the tomato mixture! Or try spreading a tapenade on the toasted bread before adding the vegetable topping.
- Vegan Caprese Bruschetta: Instead of the white bean bruschetta topping, use a simple combination of heirloom tomatoes, sea salt, cracked black pepper, and fresh basil leaves with a balsamic glaze or balsamic reduction drizzled over top. Feel free to add some vegan mozzarella too!
- Vegan Bruschetta Pasta: Instead of serving the bruschetta topping mixture over crusty bread, try tossing it with some whole wheat pasta or chickpea pasta. Mix in some olive oil or marinara sauce, too.
- Mexican Bruschetta: Instead of fresh basil, use cilantro; instead of Italian seasoning, use taco seasoning, and instead of tomatoes, use tomato salsa!
- Greek-Style Vegetarian Bruschetta: Mix a little lemon juice into the vegetable mixture and sprinkle some feta and extra oregano on top. Keep it vegan by using vegan feta.
Absolutely loved this vegan bruschetta recipe! The combination of sweet tomatoes, crunchy zucchini, and creamy white beans on a whole wheat baguette was a delightful twist on the classic Italian dish.
Aw yay! So happy to hear that Kim!
I love bruschetta – one of my favorite ways to eat it is with some cheese on top. I bet it would be great with vegan cheese, too!
Definitely!! Enjoy!
I loved the addition of zucchini on this. So light and fresh.
Thanks Dannii!
I love bruschetta. Thanks for all the great variations!
So glad you liked this recipe Kate!
This was a such a delicious and easy recipe! So good!
Thanks so much!
We love this healthy dish! Thanks so much for the great recipe.
Aw yay! Thanks so much Beth – so happy to hear it!
I love all the veggies you put with this caprese bruschetta with white beans. I could definitely make a meal out of this.
Totally!! It’s great as a lighter lunch or dinner!
I’ve made bruschetta before, but I’ve never tried adding white beans to it. This caprese bruschetta with white beans sounds so great! Thank you.
Thanks so much! I’m sure you will love it!
So many great flavours all in the one dish. Love the use of the cannellini beans
Thanks!! Yes the beans add both a heartiness and creaminess to the dish which I love!
Light, refreshing, healthy dose of veggies and protein – Perfect brunch I say! Love how it doubles up as an appetizer and lunch recipe.
Thanks so much Vidya! So glad you liked it!
This looks so great. I’m gonna have to get all the ingredients and make it soon!
Yay! I can’t wait for you to try this recipe!
I told the kids these were like mini pizzas and they devoured them! Loved the freshness of all the ingredients.
That’s a great way to describe these delicious toasts! So glad your family loved them!
This looks so light and fresh. The perfect summer lunch.
Thanks so much! Enjoy!
What a fabulous recipe! So easy and tasty! I will definitely be making this one again!
Hooray! So happy to hear that Kim!
Great, unique recipe! We love making a meal off bruschetta too, and this one sounds hearty enough.
Totally!! And it’s really easy to switch up the toppings based on whatever you have on hand!
What a super recipe idea! Such a clever way to serve white beans! I’ll be making this time and time again from now on, thank you!
Thanks Elizabeth! I can’t wait for you to try this recipe!!