Recession Proof Panzanella Salad

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Don't throw out that stale bread, don't you know there is a recession going on?

Make a panzanella salad.

A gorgeous summer salad made with stale bread and tomatoes.
The bread will absorb the dressing and revive that petrified loaf of bread.

If I am making this for company and forget to buy the loaf of bread a few days prior, I cheat and toast up bread chunks and make croutons. It has the same effect as using stale bread.

Last night I had a 3 day old baguette that needed a saw to cut thru, but I did it.

I cut it into cubes and threw it together with chopped tomatoes.



This salad is best in the late summer when you can mix all the varieties of beautiful Jersey tomatoes that are in season, red, cherry, yellow, beefsteak, etc.



Panzanella Salad: serves 8

Dressing:

1/3 cup of balsamic vinegar
1/2 cup of good olive oil
1 garlic clove, minced
kosher salt & pepper

Salad:

1 stale baguette, ciabatta or bastone type of bread (the older the better!), torn or cut into chunks
2 lbs. plus of Roma, cherry or beefsteak tomatoes, cut into chunks
1/3 cup of basil leaves cut into chiffonade (rolled and sliced thin)
1/2 red onion, sliced thin
1/2 cup of kalamata olives, chopped

Mix your salad ingredients and place them in a large bowl.



Whisk your dressing and pour over the bread and tomato mixture until bread cubes absorb the dressing. You don't have to use all of the dressing, see how moist you like it.

Make at least one hour ahead and leave at room temperature, so flavors and dressing absorb the bread and tomatoes.



Enjoy!

Comments

Ciao Chow Linda said…
Beautiful summer salad - unfortunately my husband won't eat it. Can I come to your house?
The JR said…
What an excellent idea. You know my chickens are now going to be mad at you! Cause they usually get that rock hard bread.

It looks wonderful. Thanks for the recipe Stacy.

Ramona
kat said…
It is such a perfect hot weather meal especially with tomatoes fresh from the garden
Great! I have a stale loaf on my counter which I was going to use for bread crumbs. Now you gave me a better idea!
Patsyk said…
Gorgeous! My kind of salad... and I do have an abundance of bread leftover from our block party last weekend so this may be happening soon at my house!
Pam said…
I may just make this for dinner tonight - beautiful!
Dana said…
I love panzanella and I almost always have bread that I forget about. You are so lucky to have those Jersey tomatoes. I have heard stories but have never had one.
noble pig said…
I have sawed many a baguette! I love this salad to the core. Is that possible?
LaDue & Crew said…
This one will definitely be on the menu this week ;-)
Dewi said…
Great idea Stacey, I always have left over bread.
This look delicious!
Cyn said…
perfect meal for the perfect healthy life!
The best! No reason to ever toss day-old bread!
Karen said…
Yum... love this. I've had bread that I needed a saw to cut, too!
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