Brunch Panzanella Recipes

PANZANELLA

Steps:

• In a large bowl, combine tomatoes, cucumber, green onion, yellow pepper, parsley, and basil.
• In a small bowl, whisk together lemon juice, olive oil, salt, ground black pepper, and garlic. Pour lemon juice mixture over the tomato mixture, and toss to coat. Refrigerate for 30 minutes.
• Meanwhile, preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Place bread cubes in a single layer on a baking sheet. Bake for 12 minutes, or until toasted and dry.
• Toss bread cubes with tomato mixture, and serve.

PANZANELLA

Steps:

• Spread 8 cups cubed crusty bread on a baking sheet and bake at 400˚ F until toasted, 8 to 10 minutes; let cool. Transfer the bread to a bowl and add 2 1/2 pounds chopped tomatoes, 1/2 sliced red onion, 1 cup torn basil, 2/3 cup olive oil and 1/4 cup each capers and red wine vinegar. Season with salt and pepper and gently toss.

CHEF JOHN'S PANZANELLA

Steps:

• Pour bread into a large skillet and drizzle with 1/4 cup olive oil, working in batches if necessary. Cook and stir bread over medium heat, adding more oil as needed, until bread cubes are golden and crispy on the outside, 7 to 12 minutes.
• Sprinkle Parmigiano-Reggiano over the top of the bread cubes; cook and stir until cheese is melted onto bread, and bread is crispy on the outside but still chewy on the inside, 3 to 4 minutes more. Cool completely.
• Combine tomatoes, red wine vinegar, extra virgin olive oil, garlic, sugar, salt, and black pepper together in a bowl until well-mixed. Cover bowl with plastic wrap and let sit at room temperature until flavors combine, about 20 minutes.
• Toss basil into tomato mixture; add bread cubes and stir. Let salad sit at room temperature 3 to 4 minutes; if the liquid is completely absorbed, add more vinegar and extra virgin olive oil to taste. Season with salt and black pepper.

TUSCAN PANZANELLA

Steps:

• Preheat grill to medium-high. (Alternatively, heat a grill pan over mediumhigh heat until hot.) Using 3 tablespoons of oil, brush bread slices on both sides.
• Grill bread slices, turning once, until toasted on both sides, about 5 minutes total. Rub both sides with halved garlic. Tear into bite-size pieces.
• Toss bread, tomatoes, onion, bocconcini, and sliced basil in a serving bowl.
• Whisk together vinegar and minced garlic in a small bowl. Whisking constantly, pour in remaining 6 tablespoons oil in a slow, steady stream, and whisk until emulsified. Pour over salad. Season with salt and pepper. Let stand at room temperature, tossing occasionally, 1 hour. Garnish with whole basil leaves.