This refreshing summer snack replaces the bread in traditional bruschetta with crispy, crunchy cucumbers. Topped with a flavorful, tangy tomato, olive and caper mix….you won’t be able to eat just one….or two. Or three. (I stopped at 5.)

Cucumber Crostini with Tomato and Kalamata Olives | The Suburban Soapbox

The winter took a toll on me. I ate so.much.food. And sat around….a lot. Before I knew it I had gained an extra 10 pounds. I say extra because it was on top of some weight that I had already decided was extra. So this was additional “extra” weight. (If you say “extra” too many times it starts to not even sound like a word. Extra. Yep. Weird.

Anyway, I recently lost that additional “extra” weight by cutting back on fast food and eating less bread, pasta and sugar. Don’t get me wrong….I STILL eat them occasionally but I was, pretty much, living on them all winter long. Purely out of convenience….and my love of McDonald’s french fries didn’t help.

Cucumber Crostini with Tomato and Kalamata Olives | The Suburban Soapbox

Summer makes eating healthier so much easier. The fresh fruits and vegetables are everywhere you turn….talk about convenience! The fruit is, literally, like eating candy and just as satisfying. And the tomatoes…..oh.boy. I mentioned before how I have a love/hate relationship with tomatoes. I refuse to buy them when they’re not in season. It’s just not worth the disappointment to bite into a mealy, pale tomato in the dead of winter. It makes me miss summer that much more. But summer tomatoes are like biting into a waterfall of juicy, tangy sunshine. I can’t think of anything better.

Cucumber Crostini with Tomato and Kalamata Olives | The Suburban Soapbox

 

I love bruschetta….I love how a simple tomato salad perched on top of a small piece of bread can be so satisfying…so filling…so happy. I don’t love that I always feel compelled to eat ALL of the bruschetta like I’ll never have it again. The bread can be a problem for me. I had to find a way to fix it but without sacrificing the flavor or the crunchy contrast to the topping. And so…I sliced up some cucumbers and called them bread. Yep. It was a happy, happy day.

Cucumber Crostini with Tomato and Kalamata Olives | The Suburban Soapbox

Drizzled with a bit of aged balsamic vinegar, this will surely be a hit at any dinner or poolside party. Nobody wants to be a glutton when they’re wearing a bikini but these little babies are super skinny….to keep you super skinny. 🙂

Get the Recipe: Cucumber Bruschetta with Tomato and Kalamata Olives

start off your party with these cucumber bruschetta's
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Ingredients

  • 1 large tomato, seeded and diced
  • 1/4 cup finely diced red onion
  • 1 garlic clove, minced
  • 1 tablespoon capers, rinsed and drained
  • 1/4 cup chopped kalamata olives
  • 2 tablespoons chopped parsley
  • 2 tablespoons chopped basil
  • 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
  • kosher salt
  • freshly ground pepper
  • 1 english cucumber, sliced on an angle 1/4 inch thick

Instructions 

  • In a small bowl, toss together all ingredients tomato through olive oil. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Set aside.
  • Arrange the cucumber on a platter and spoon the tomato mixture in the middle of each slice. Drizzle with balsamic vinegar. Serve immediately.
  • Note: The tomato mixture can be made up to 24 hours in advanced and refrigerated in an airtight container.
Serving: 0g, Calories: 16kcal, Carbohydrates: 1g, Protein: 0g, Fat: 1g, Saturated Fat: 0g, Cholesterol: 0mg, Sodium: 47mg, Potassium: 52mg, Fiber: 0g, Sugar: 0g, Vitamin A: 145IU, Vitamin C: 2.5mg, Calcium: 6mg, Iron: 0.1mg