Mushroom bruschetta is a quick and easy appetizer ~ the savory mushroom toast with a hint of garlic and lots of melty Gruyere is a combination no one can resist!
light dinner or substantial appetizer, it’s up to you.
More often than not, they’re one and the same to us. This one couldn’t be simpler, and I’ve got a bonus tip for cooking those mushrooms — you won’t believe the flavor you will get from them when you cook them my way.
ingredients for mushroom bruschetta
This recipe is based on classic Mediterranean elements
- a crusty loaf of ciabatta bread
- mushrooms, wild or cultivate (I used cremini mushrooms, which are young portobellos, and small white buttons.)
- nutty Gruyere
- fresh thyme
- dry sherry
- and a touch of garlic.
You can use any kind of mushrooms and any other type of cheese you love. There are lots of great cheeses that would be delicious here, but Gruyere and mushrooms have a special affinity for each other.
how to dry sauté mushrooms for the best flavor (it’s healthier, too!)
Here’s my mushroom cooking trick— I like to dry saute the mushrooms, without any oil or butter. They hit the hot pan and immediately begin to release some of their moisture. They darken and their flavor intensifies.
They don’t get that spongy quality that mushrooms have when they absorb oil, so their texture is better, too. Just be sure to stir them often to keep them from sticking to the pan. As an added benefit you don’t get the extra calories from added fat. (Save that for the cheese!)
how to make mushroom bruschetta
Slice a loaf of ciabatta bread in half lengthwise. You can make one large piece or divide it into individual pieces. Grill the bread on a hot grill pan or skillet until it’s toasted and then rub a fresh piece of garlic across the top. The rough bread will scrape off just enough garlic to infuse it with flavor.
my secret ingredient is a slosh of dry sherry just as the mushrooms have finished browning.
It will immediately bubble up and the alcohol will evaporate leaving wonderful flavor. It’s delicious with the thyme and Gruyere!
more toasty bread snacks
Bruschetta, crostini, and toasts are a favorite of ours here at tvfgi, and I’ve got some other tasty ideas for you to explore once you’ve polished off your mushroom and Gruyere bruschetta ~
- Wild Caught Tuna Crostini
- Pan Con Tomate (Spanish tomato bread)
- Tomato Toast with Basil Mayonnaise
- Heirloom Tomato Toast
- Heirloom Tomato Bruschetta
- Guacamole Bruschetta Bar
Mushroom Bruschetta with Gruyere
Ingredients
- 1 lb loaf ciabatta bread
- 1 clove garlic peeled and halved lengthwise
- 1 lb assorted mushrooms, I used cremini and white button
- dry Sherry or Marsala
- sea salt
- fresh cracked black pepper
- extra virgin olive oil for brushing (optional)
- fresh thyme leaves, about 2 Tbsp, plus more for garnish
- 1 1/4 cup Gruyere cheese, grated
garnish
Instructions
- Cut the bread in half lengthwise, so you have 2 large cut surfaces. Cut each half in half again, so you have 4 flat pieces of bread. Preheat a grill pan over high heat until very hot. Grill the bread, cut side down, on the hot grill until it starts to get nice char marks. It helps to press down on the bread as it grills to make good contact with the pan. Rub the cut side of the garlic across the whole surface of the bread while it is still hot. Set aside.
- Dust off the mushrooms with a clean dish cloth. Trim off the tips of the stems, and then slice them.
- Heat a cast iron or saute pan on medium high, and add the mushrooms to the dry pan. Sauté the mushrooms, shaking the pan or tossing them as they start to give up their moisture and brown. This will take about 5 minutes, and I do it in batches so I don't crowd the pan. Note: If you crowd the pan the mushrooms will steam and not brown.
- As each batch of mushrooms finishes browning, add a tablespoon of sherry and let it sizzle for just a few seconds to evaporate. Stir to deglaze the pan and get up any browned bits from the bottom of the pan. Season with a pinch of salt, and add the thyme leaves.
- Optional step: brush the cut sides of the bread with good extra virgin olive oil before topping. This adds calories, but tastes so good.
- Spoon the mushrooms and any juice onto the bread. Top with the cheese, some black pepper, and a little more fresh thyme. Broil until the cheese is melted. Watch closely, this will only take a couple of minutes. Don't set the oven rack too close to the flame.
- Scatter with more fresh thyme and slice the bread into individual portions. Enjoy right away. If you want to reheat leftovers, cover them loosely in foil and heat in a 325F oven until warm.
Notes
Nutrition
So glad I found this. In my last Pinterest effort to find something for tonight…. I stumble on this. This is perfect for the wine party and easy to put together yet hearty enough in case someone needs a little extra.
Thank you for sharing this recipe! I am actually making it RIGHT NOW! My husband bought a bunch of mushrooms and I didn’t know what to do with them. Now I do!
Enjoy Susan 🙂
I love the recipe, so much so that I started experimenting with it. One of my favorites has been using Marsala instead of sherry with sliced portobellos & Brie cheese. After putting it in to melt the cheese, I put diced plum tomatoes that I’ve already diced up taking out all the seeds etc. & I put it in the same pan that I used for cooking the mushrooms. I constantly stir them so they don’t burn, but they do soften up. Once they do, then I mix them with the mushrooms that I have set aside for garnish. So I do a couple of different ones when I have a bunch of people over so they all have options or they can have a little bit of everything. So far there’s been no complaints about any of them. Thanks to you!!!
What fun ~ I haven’t really played around with this one, Cris, now I want to. Your Brie and mushroom version would be great to serve with my Brie and mushroom soup!
Love this recipe~ thanks! Thought I’d mention~ Crimini mushrooms are the same kind as button mushrooms just brown instead of white… Portabellos are mature brown button mushrooms.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Agaricus_bisporus
Made this for girls night,& wine,,,hope all like it…
About how much fresh thyme do you sauté with the mushrooms? I didn’t see a measurement, and I need one :).
I’d say about 2 Tbsp, give or take, Judy, I’ve just updated the recipe, thanks!
Thank you!!
Do you think this is something that could be done up ahead of time, the mushrooms that is? Then assemble it and bake it right before?
Absolutely, that would work great.
I tried this and it was amazing! I replaced the Marsala with Paneras Fuji Apple vinaigrette dressing and used goat and mozzarella cheese instead. Also I used white bolillios bread. All this I found in my fridge to replace what I didn’t have and it turned out amazingly delicious!
Sounds fantastic!
Tried this tonight and it was AMAZING – I used a package of mixed dried mushrooms – shiitake, oyster, etc – soaked in water before starting your steps and it was just excellent, definitely a keeper recipe! Thank you for sharing!
So happy you liked it! Aren’t dried mushrooms great?
Looks delicious! I’ll have to try that dry sauteing thing. I usually make mine in butter and olive oil and finish them off with red wine, but combining that with cheese would just be too soggy! Thanks for all the great recipes!