TUSCAN PANZANELLA SALAD
This has to be my very favorite time of year.
What time is that you ask?
FRESH TOMATO SEASON!
This is one of the very best salads EVER! That is if you like tomatoes. ♥ If you make this, I would encourage you to make EXTRA. Save the croutons separate for the leftovers. Jack and I had this last night for dinner and he said, "If I had to choose between eating this 5 nights a week every week or never again, I'd pick 5 nights a week."
We had it again this morning with eggs over easy and toast. And I had the last of it with lunch today.
Without further ado - here is the recipe:
Tuscan Panzanella Salad
INGREDIENTS:
3- 4 slices of your favorite gluten free bread cut into small cubes
3 TBS. Olive Oil
1 tsp. garlic salt
3 – 5 cups of diced tomatoes – use a variety of types and colors, seeds and peel included
½ sliced red onion
1 red bell pepper, julienne (yellow or orange would work well too)
½ cucumber – peeled, quartered, and sliced
1/3 fennel bulb – shaved
10 pitted black olives – sliced
1 TBS. capers, chopped fine
5 to 6 Basil leaves, rolled up cigar fashion and sliced fine
3 TBS. Red Wine Vinegar
1 TBS. Lemon juice
1/3 cup Olive Oil
Sea Salt and Cracked Black Pepper
Parmesan Cheese
DIRECTIONS:
To prepare your croutons – Cut up your bread and put in a small mixing bowl. Sprinkle on your garlic salt, then add in olive oil. Toss to coat.
Heat oven to 300° and place croutons on baking sheet and bake until crisp. Due to not knowing what type of gluten free bread you might be using, time can vary, so keep an eye on this – could be anywhere from 10 – 30 minutes. You know how gluten free bread is!
For the salad – cut up all of your vegetables and place in a medium sized mixing bowl. I just added my dressing ingredients individually – I didn’t make it in a separate bowl. Toss to combine and allow it to marinate for about 15 minutes.
Prior to serving, add in croutons so they can start soaking up your awesome dressing.
Garnish with some Parmesan when serving. While it is a nice touch – it does not take away from its awesomeness to go without if you are not interested in dairy.
