Kosterina Bruschetta Chicken

We love a good bruschetta recipe! It’s a dish that’s equally light and flavorful, making it the perfect appetizer or side for a ton of different meals. However, if you’re trying to stick to a low carb diet, or even just increase your protein intake, a traditional bruschetta recipe doesn’t exactly fit the bill. That’s why we decided to take one of our favorite appetizers and turn it into a main course with this Bruschetta Chicken.

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This isn’t the first time we’ve turned one of our favorite apps and gave it new life. Our Jalapeño Popper Chicken and Spinach Artichoke Dip Stuffed Chicken also prove that if you love the flavor of one dish, you can easily turn it into another that works with your diet AND satisfies your cravings.

Of course, when it comes to good bruschetta, the ingredients you use are key. After all, it’s a relatively simple dish so each flavor really stands out. We used firm cherry tomatoes, flavorful red onion, garden-grown basil, and high-quality balsamic vinegar and olive oil to bring this dish together.

Many people don’t realize that all olive oils and balsamic vinegars aren’t created equally. And, while it doesn’t really matter for stir-frying your favorite veggies in a pan, it does matter when it’s a key ingredient for flavor like in bruschetta or even your favorite homemade salad dressing recipe. That’s why are so excited to partner with Kosterina on this recipe! They offer cold pressed, authentic olive oil straight from Greece and sweet Italian balsamic vinegars.

Thank you to Kosterina for sponsoring this post!

What is Cold Pressed Olive Oil

Cold pressed olive oil is made without using any sort of heat (but we bet you figured that much out). And why does this matter? This method of production is one of the best ways for olive oil to keep the healthy properties of the stone fruit intact, making it better tasting AND better for you.

In fact, cold pressed olive oil is full of vitamins E, K, and A and features healthy fats that are good for your heart. It’s also full of antioxidants which help delay and prevent cell damage (which keeps you looking and feeling your best). It’s anti-inflammatory properties are another benefit, as inflammation has been linked to diseases like type 2 diabetes, Alzheimer’s, and cancer.

Obviously we are food bloggers, not doctors so be sure to consult a medical professional if you have questions about how incorporating cold pressed olive oil into your diet will affect you.

Kosterina Olive Oils and Balsalmic Vinegar

Kosterina’s extra virgin olive oils are made from 100% Koroneiki olives harvested in southern Greece. In addition to being from one of the best olive regions in the world, Kosterina olives are part of an early harvest. Why is this important? Well, when olives are harvested early, they are picked and pressed before they are ripe. Kosterina’s early harvest results in higher levels of polyphenol content and their signature fresh, robust flavor.

Polyphenols are powerful, naturally occurring antioxidants that are clinically proven to reduce inflammation in the body. Kosterina’s EVOO has a polyphenol content of 470 mg/kg. So not only do they taste better, but they’re better for you too – a true win-win!

But you don’t have to take our word for why Kosterina’s olive oil and balsamic vinegar are so much better than your average supermarket find. You can try them for yourself.

Kosterina offers FREE SHIPPING on any order over $75.
And your first order is 10% off when you sign up for their newsletter
Shop Kosterina Olive Oils and Balsalmic Vinegar.

Balsamic Vinegar vs Balsamic Vinaigrette

When you think about balsamic vinegar, you might think about a salad dressing you had one time at an Italian restaurant. However, that is actually a balsamic vinaigrette. We know… this can be a little confusing.

Essentially, balsamic vinegar is a sweet, dark Italian vinegar. It can be used in a variety of recipes and is one of our favorite pantry staples for kicking dishes up a notch.

Balsamic vinaigrette is a dressing made by mixing balsamic vinegar with oils and seasonings. So balsamic vinegar is a key ingredient in a balsamic vinaigrette. They’re closely related but can have completely different tastes depending on what type of oil and seasonings you use in your vinaigrette.

We whipped up a simple side salad for our bruschetta chicken using Kosterina’s delicious balsamic vinegar. It was dark, syrupy, and super flavorful! While Kosterina’s oils come from Greece, their balsamic come straight from Modena, Italy. You’ll notice it’s sweeter, thicker, and with more depth of flavor than your traditional vinegars, yet without any added sugar.

Simple Salad with Easy Dressing

We whipped up a super easy side salad to complement our bruschetta chicken. This is also our go-to for easy meal prep paired with juicy grilled chicken or even our Chipolte Lime Shrimp.

One of the things we love about Kosterina’s product line is that they offer so many different flavors in both their balsamics and oils. We made this easy salad dressing with their original balsamic vinegar and paired it once with their garlic olive oil and once with their Greek herb and lemon olive oil. Both turned out absolutely DELICIOUS!

Simple Side Salad Recipe:

• Mixed greens
• 1/4 red onion
• 1/4 cup parmesan cheese
• 2 tbsp balsamic vinegar
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• salt and pepper to taste

Whisk together the balsamic vinegar, olive oil, and salt and pepper with a fork to make the salad dressing. Throw all the salad ingredients in a bowl and drizzle over as much of the dressing as you’d like. Enjoy!

Simple Side Salad Recipe Tips:

• If meal prepping this salad, store the dressing in a separate container and give it a fresh whisk before drizzling.
• If you aren’t using a flavored olive oil, add in some additional seasonings. Italian seasoning or lemon garlic are both delicious options.

This simple side salad really does complement our bruschetta chicken perfectly if you want to add some greens to your meal. The flavors are light enough that it doesn’t overpower the bruschetta, and it comes together so quickly, you can whip it up while the chicken is baking in the oven!

Bruschetta Chicken Recipe Tips:

• It’s important to watch your timing on the chicken here. You want to pull it out of the oven to add the cheese and topping just before the chicken is cooked thoroughly (about 150 degrees). This will prevent it from drying out when you warm the cheese and topping.
  
• Cut up your basil leaves with herb scissors to easily chop up a bunch of this herb quickly.
  
• Don’t skip the marinade on the chicken. Not only does it add extra flavor, it keeps the chicken super juicy while it bakes in the oven.
  
• Any leftovers warm up deliciously! Just throw it in the microwave with a wet paper towel over it for about 2 minutes.

We hope you try Kosterina olive oils and balsamic vinegars, and love them as much as we do!
Shop Kosterina Olive Oils and Balsalmic Vinegar.
Kosterina offers FREE SHIPPING on any order over $75 and your first order is 10% off when you sign up for their newsletter.