Brioche Bruschetta with Tomato Confit & Parmesan “Softs”

This isn’t just an appetizer—it’s the kind of low-stress, high-flavor dish that turns an ordinary evening into a little moment of peace. No fancy ingredients. No chef hat required. Just tomatoes, brioche, cheese, and a reminder that food can feel good.

It came together while the news was playing in the background and the deck was calling. The condo came with an outdoor television on the deck, and L wanted to watch the news with a cocktail in hand. So, I made it happen and added delicious nibbles.

🍅 Ingredients

Sliced brioche bread
Cherry tomatoes (halved)
1–2 cloves garlic, minced
1 shallot, finely diced
Olive oil
Shredded parmesan
Balsamic glaze

🔥 Steps

1. Tomato Confit:
   Simmer halved cherry tomatoes, shallot, and garlic in olive oil on low heat for 20–25 minutes. The tomatoes will burst and jam slightly. Add salt and pepper to taste.
2. Parmesan Softs (a happy accident):
   Create little mounds of shredded parmesan on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Just because I’m fancy, I used the edge of a knife to square them off (yes, really). Bake at 375°F for 5–7 minutes. They melted into something round/square-ish. Mine turned out soft, not crisp—so we rolled with it and named them parmesan softs. Too much parmesan in my little mound. Still completely delicious.
3. Toasted Brioche:
   Brush brioche slices with olive oil and toast until golden brown.
4. Assemble:
   Top the toasted brioche with tomato confit, drizzle with balsamic glaze, and finish with a parmesan soft on top. Serve immediately. Add wine, cocktail, or deck lighting as needed.

🧺 Deckside Notes from the Cook

I’m a very novice cook. This was easy, smelled delicious while cooking, and was healthy. While the tomatoes cooked, I cleaned up the kitchen, warmed the oven, and prepped the bread.
We served it all on one plate and made a little night of it.
This is the kind of thing you can whip up last minute. Easy, natural ingredients. A little snack before bed. Something to share when people drop in. Something that makes you smile because you made it—and it’s really delicious.

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