In no time at all you can serve this wonderful bruschetta to your family. It's so versatile, you can enjoy it as an appetizer or even a meal.
1 small loaf ciabatta bread or crusty baguette
1 clove garlic, halved
1 pint cremini mushrooms
1/4 lb. Gruyere cheese, grated
1 T. Sherry or Marsala wine
pinch of salt, if needed
2 T. fresh thyme leaves, plus more for garnish
freshly ground black pepper
garnish, fresh thyme leaves
Preheat an indoor or outdoor grill.
Cut bread in half lengthwise to make a large cut surface. (A 6 inch x 6 inch piece of ciabatta is needed.) Grill bread, cut side down, on a hot grill until it starts to get nice char marks.
Rub the cut side of the halved garlic across the bread while bread is still hot; set aside.
Wipe off mushrooms with a clean dish cloth; trim off the tips of the stems; slice.
Heat a cast iron or a saute pan on medium-high heat; add mushrooms and thyme leaves; dry saute, stirring often so they won't stick to the pan, until they release their moisture and are soft. This will only take several minutes. Add sherry; allow to sizzle for just a few seconds; stir to deglaze the pan and get up any browned bits from the bottom. Season with a pinch of salt, if needed.
Spoon the mushrooms and any juices onto the bread; top with cheese, black pepper and a little fresh thyme.
Broil until cheese is melted.
Slice bread into individual pieces.
Serve immediately.
2 servings.
*You may want to set aside a few cooked mushroom slices to garnish the bruschetta after it comes out of the broiler.