Shrimp Bruschettas with Yellow Tomatoes, Basil and Parmesan

Shrimp bruschettas are one of those appetizers that make much more of an impression on the table than they demand in the kitchen. Toasted bread, buttery shrimp, garlic, yellow cherry tomatoes, basil, lemon and a little parmesan. Simple, but very effective.

This recipe is a great choice for a festive table, a summer gathering, an evening with a glass of sparkling wine or whenever you want to prepare something small, savoury and fragrant. Shrimp cook very quickly, so it is important to have all the ingredients chopped and ready before you start cooking.

Mediterranean appetizer

Crispy bruschettas with juicy shrimp, yellow cherry tomatoes, garlic, basil, lemon and parmesan. Small bites with a sea-inspired character that you can serve as an appetizer, snack or part of a festive table.

Preparation time about 15 minutes

Cooking time about 10 minutes

Quantity serves 4 to 6

Ingredients

• 600 g shrimp
• 100 g butter
• 5 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
• 4 garlic cloves
• 200 g yellow cherry tomatoes
• 1 handful fresh basil
• 3 tablespoons ground paprika
• juice of 1 lemon
• salt and freshly ground pepper to taste
• sourdough bread or another rustic bread
• parmesan for sprinkling

More light ideas for hot days

If you like these shrimp bruschettas, you will probably also enjoy this weekly selection of summer lunches, focused on fresh, quick and light dishes without turning the kitchen into a sauna.

Quick Light Lunches for Hot Days: 7 Summer Recipes for Next Week

Method

1. Preparing the bread

Cut the bread into thicker slices. Drizzle the slices with a little olive oil and toast them in a pan, grill pan or oven until golden and crispy. The bread should be crisp on the outside, but still a little soft inside, so it can hold the topping nicely.

2. Preparing the ingredients

Clean the shrimp if needed and dry them with a paper towel. Peel the garlic and finely chop it. Cut the yellow cherry tomatoes in half or into quarters, depending on their size. Tear or roughly chop the basil just before using it, so it stays fresh and fragrant.

3. Sautéing the garlic and tomatoes

Heat the olive oil in a large pan and add the butter. When the butter melts, add the garlic and sauté it briefly over medium heat, just until fragrant. Then add the yellow cherry tomatoes and cook them for a few minutes, until they soften slightly and release a little juice.

4. Adding the shrimp

Add the shrimp, ground paprika, salt and pepper to the pan. Mix everything well so the shrimp are "dressed" in the buttery tomato sauce. Cook them for only about 2 more minutes, until they turn pink and firm. Do not cook the shrimp for too long, because they quickly become rubbery.

5. Finishing with lemon and basil

When the shrimp are cooked, remove the pan from the heat. Add the lemon juice and fresh basil, then gently mix. The sauce should be buttery, fragrant, slightly sharp from the lemon and juicy enough to moisten the toasted bread nicely.

6. Assembling the bruschettas

Place a few shrimp, tomatoes and a little pan sauce on each slice of toasted bread. Add freshly grated or shaved parmesan on top. Serve the bruschettas immediately, while the bread is still crispy and the topping is warm and juicy.

For days when you want something good, but without long cooking

Bruschettas are a great appetizer or snack, but if you are looking for more ideas for a lighter summer meal, take a look at this collection of recipes without heavy sauces and long standing by the stove.

Light Summer Recipes for Hot Days: 7 Quick Dinner Ideas Without Long Cooking

Tip

If you use frozen shrimp, thaw them completely before cooking and dry them well. If you put wet shrimp into the pan, they will release too much liquid and instead of a juicy topping, you will get a watery sauce. With shrimp, timing really matters: better one minute less than one minute too much.