With the cold I don't have the energy to make a super complicated dish. Comfort food would be great but that does take a bit of work. Instead I went with something simple yet decadent.
Italian cuisine is based on frugality. If it can be avoided foods nothing goes to waste. The simple peasant loaves of bread that we know mostly as Italian bread traditionaly made have little to know preservatives in them. On average they would last a day and the second day they would start to stale and harden.
What do you do with bread when it loses its soft freshness? The panzanella salad is a salad that uses old bread as its main ingredient. In the US we tend to call these crusty chunks of bread croutons, but that tells us nothing of what a true panzanella salad can be.
Ingredients:
1 head of red leaf lettuce
6 pieces of bread (used Italian Wheat for this)
small jar of artichokes (quartered)
1/2 medium red onion (thinly sliced)
3 roma tomatoes (cut into 8ths)
1 clove garlic
8 leaves basil (chiffonade)
Red wine vinagrette
Fresh mozzarella
Method:
Cut bread into chunks, then mix with salt, pepper, chopped garlic, and olive oil. Cook at 300 for till fully dry (stirring every 10 minutes).
In a mixing bowl mix bread, artichokes, onion, tomatoes and basil with enough vinagrette to moisten. Serve over chopped lettuce.
Red wine Vin ingredients (if you choose to make your own):
1 clove garlic
2 tablespoons honey
1/2 cup red wine vinegar
1 1/2 cup olive oil
2 teaspoon italian herbs
salt to taste
Method:
In a small bowl place garlic honey and vinegar. Mix well with a hand blender (this can also be done in a upright blender). Drizzle olive oil into with blender running. Once it is all incorporated mix in herbs and salt. If the dressing is too acidic, honey can be added to sweeten. Time for a pint
All I can say is what's there not to like about this salad. It is fabulous. Oh and good good on the pictures too. :-)
ReplyDeleteI picked iPhoto earlier. I like it but I am still learning it.
DeleteI love salads and this one looks fabulous. Thanks for the crouton tip. I had no idea how to make them.
ReplyDeleteIt is one of the great mysteries of the universe.
DeleteI am big on salads. Great photos! Hope you feel better soon. :)
ReplyDeleteMe too.
DeleteThis looks delicious! I love any type of salad, especially if there is fresh mozzarella and bread involved. Feel better!
ReplyDeleteThank you.
DeleteI know I would love this. I had heard of the name panzanella, but will admit to not knowing anything about it. Here's to pinning it and hoping I (or hubby) gives making it a try someday ;)
ReplyDeleteThe nice thing about most salads is they can be quick and easy. They are a great dinner when you don't have the energy for anything more.
DeleteThank you for the recipe! It looks great. I am always looking to add more salads into my life.
ReplyDeleteThis is a good one.
DeleteI've been finding recipes with leftover bread - yours looks especially good. However, I've been trying to give up foods like bread, so I'll stick with the garlic, red onion and olive oil. Good flavoring!
ReplyDeleteBread is too much a part of my life to give up. Beer is still liquid bread and all.
DeleteLove this! I'll have to give this a try, anything that involves fresh mozzarella is an automatic 'In" in my book!
ReplyDeleteFresh mozz is a beautiful thing.
DeleteOh my that looks amazing and I am suddenly starving! I have been trying to cut back on eating breads but then I buy bread and find an entire uneaten loaf still in my kitchen a week past expiration so I've been trying to find meals that will use bread but not in an unhealthy manner. I may have just found the trick. Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteEveryone is trying to give up bread. I feel all alone in my love for this great thing.
DeleteMmmm. This looks super tasty. And I love that you make your own salad dressing! I recently did a post about making your own mayonnaise that you might like: http://www.thespruiker.com/mayonnaise/
ReplyDelete