Panzanella Strata Recipes

PANZANELLA

Steps:

• Heat the oil in a large saute pan. Add the bread and salt; cook over low to medium heat, tossing frequently, for 10 minutes, or until nicely browned. Add more oil as needed.
• For the vinaigrette, whisk all the ingredients together.
• In a large bowl, mix the tomatoes, cucumber, red pepper, yellow pepper, red onion, basil, and capers. Add the bread cubes and toss with the vinaigrette. Season liberally with salt and pepper. Serve, or allow the salad to sit for about half an hour for the flavors to blend.

PANZANELLA STRATA

Steps:

• Grease a casserole dish with some butter, set aside.
• Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat with the EVOO. Add the garlic, cubanelles, sweet peppers, onions and chiles, then stir. Cook to tender-crisp, 5 minutes. Add the tomatoes, and season with salt and pepper. Remove from the heat and cool.
• Whisk together the eggs, cream, half of the cheese, the parsley, basil and some salt and pepper.
• Arrange the bread and cooled vegetables in the casserole dish, it will mound up a bit. Pour the eggs over top of the casserole and top with the remaining cheese and a few dots of butter. Cover and chill overnight or a couple of days ahead.
• To serve, bring the casserole to room temperature. Then bake at 375 degrees F until cooked through, 1 hour to 1 hour 15 minutes.

PANZANELLA

Steps:

• Place bread in a medium mixing bowl and cover with water. Soak bread 3 to 5 minutes. In small batches, remove bread in handfuls from the water and wring it out with out mashing or tearing bread. You do not want wet bread, so wring it carefully.
• Combine tomatoes with onions and basil in a second bowl and dress with vinegar, oil, salt and pepper. Add bread to tomato salad and combine. Adjust seasonings and serve.

PANZANELLA WITH MOZZARELLA AND HERBS

Steps:

• Heat oven to 425 degrees. Spread the bread cubes on a rimmed baking sheet and toss with 2 tablespoons oil and a pinch of salt. Bake until they are dried out and pale golden brown at the edges, about 7 to 15 minutes. Let cool on a wire rack.
• Cut tomatoes into bite-size pieces and transfer to a large bowl. Add mozzarella, onions, garlic paste, 1 tablespoon vinegar, oregano or thyme, 1/4 teaspoon salt and the red pepper flakes if using. Toss to coat and set aside.
• In a medium bowl, combine remaining 1 tablespoon vinegar, the mustard, 1/4 teaspoon salt and some black pepper to taste. While whisking constantly, slowly drizzle in the remaining 4 tablespoons olive oil until the mixture is thickened. Stir in cucumbers, basil and parsley.
• Add bread cubes, cucumber mixture and capers to the tomatoes and toss well. Let sit for at least 30 minutes and up to 4 hours before serving. Toss with a little more olive oil, vinegar and salt if needed just before serving.

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.