An Italian finger food classic, a fresh and crunchy bite of bruschetta is the ultimate end-of-summer dish. Between the warm toasted bread and the smattering of tomatoes mixed with basil, it's hard to imagine making any changes to this recipe. However, there are always ways to upgrade even iconic dishes like bruschetta, typically by giving them a flavor boost that enhances what's already there.
In this case, the secret ingredient you didn't know you needed is the often-overlooked herb, sorrel. Sorrel is a leafy green herb that comes packed with a distinct lemony flavor. Using sorrel is a great way to add a sharp edge to bruschetta, as the lemon taste complements the acidity of the tomatoes and the earthiness of the basil, while adding an extra layer of vibrant punchiness to the dish.
So, be sure to grab some sorrel for an underrated upgrade to your bruschetta during your next trip to the grocery store. A deep dive into sorrel Sorrel's punchy lemon flavor makes it a vibrant addition to any dish, but it is especially compatible with other bright ingredients like the grape tomatoes, herbs, and balsamic vinegar used to make bruschetta. It can be used either as a chopped-up herb in the bruschetta mix, or as a leafy garnish that provides a sour boost — this makes it great when combined with milder ingredients like bruschetta's bread, because the carbs provide a hearty base for the bright herbs.
Note that there are a handful of types of sorrel, including French and red-veined sorre.