Easy Appetizer: Bruschetta with Brie and Michigan Peach Salsa

Some of the best things in life come in pairs. Flavors, for me, are no exception. Taste buds on the human tongue can detect four flavors: sweet, sour, bitter and salty. Yes, that's right. Even though the average person has 10,000 taste buds (a number that is said to decrease as we age) they make only four distinctions between the types of food we eat. 

Taste buds aren't all that smart, either. Sometimes it is easy to trick them. According to Dr. Gary K. Beauchamp, Director of the Monell Chemical Senses Center in Philadelphia, you can tease your taste buds by drinking a cold brew. He said that one of beer's primary components (alcohol) stimulates all of the sensory systems, which include taste and smell. "It stimulates taste, being a little bit bitter itself. It stimulates olfaction, having a sort of sweet odor."

Is that why we like foods that are sweet + sour, sweet + salty or even sweet + bitter? From savory meals with sweet finish like sweet & sour chicken to  classic chocolate cake with rich, sea-salted caramel filling most of us are no stranger to these combinations.

Pairing sweet with savory is a nice way to keep your palate entertained. In my ever so humble opinion it will leave you feeling more satisfied and prevent overeating. But you know, I'm not a scientist or anything.

At the end of the day I can't promise that you won't overeat this peach bruschetta because with it's tangy peach salsa laced with summer scented cilantro, there is no way you won't want to go back for a second piece - if there is even any left.

Bruschetta with Peach Salsa & Brie
Adapted from Cooking Light

What you need:

2 large peaches, peeled and chopped (about 2 cups)
1 large red bell pepper, chopped finely
1/4 cup chopped green onions
2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro
1 tablespoons granulated sugar
1 tablespoons fresh lime juice
Dash of ground cayenne pepper
8 ounces French bread baguette, cut into 24 slices
4 ounces chilled Brie cheese, cut into 24 pieces

What you do:

1. Prepare salsa: In a medium bowl, mix peaches, bell pepper, green onions, cilantro, sugar, lime juice and cayenne pepper.

2. Arrange bread slices in an even layer on a baking sheet. Top each bread slice with 1 piece of cheese; broil 3 minutes or until cheese melts and bread is toasted. Remove pan from oven.

3. Assemble bruschetta: Top each bread slice with about 1½ Tbs. of the fruit salsa. Serve immediately.

Serves: 12
Yield: 2 bruschetta per person

Comments

[Daryl]

That looks so refreshing and delicious.Paired with crusty french bread-a winner!!!

[Michelle @ Give Me the Almond Butter]

I love bruschetta! This looks so good and relatively easy :)

[M @ Betty Crapper]

You sold me on drinking more beer!

This appetizer looks great. I love savory peachy food.

[Kerstin]

What unique and flavorful apps! The combo of peach and brie sounds so perfect.

[Ginny]

Delicious! :) I love peaches, bread and brie... Must give it a try!

[Joanne]

I would overeat this. And be totally okay about it. I bet the combo would make for an awesome grilled cheese...

[Sues]

Oh wow, this is like bruschetta taken to a whole new level! I definitely have this bookmarked for a future party. In fact, I kind of want to plan a party JUST to serve this!

[mandy]

Sounds delicious and so summery!

[kat]

Oh what a good combination!

[katelin]

um this just sounds so summery and delicious i definitely need to add this to my summer creation list.

[Juliana]

Wow, what a lovely combination...peach and brie...and it is so pretty :-)

[FoodThearpy]

Yum! I would love a piece of that!!

[Cora @ Cora Cooks]

Very nicely written - makes me really WANT to taste it, and I'm not even fond of cilantro!