Asparagus Panzanella Recipes

ASPARAGUS AND TOMATO PANZANELLA

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C).
• Toss bread, 1/4 cup olive oil, and garlic in a bowl until coated. Season with salt and black pepper. Transfer mixture to a baking sheet.
• Bake in the preheated oven until toasted, about 15 minutes, stirring and flipping bread cubes about halfway through. Allow bread to cool.
• Fill a large bowl with iced water; set aside. Bring a pot of salted water to a boil; cook asparagus in boiling water until bright green and just tender, 2 to 3 minutes. Transfer asparagus to iced water to cool. Drain and dry on a clean towel. Cut asparagus into thirds.
• Mix asparagus, cucumber, cherry tomatoes, yellow tomatoes, red onion, olives, capers, mozzarella balls, and bread cubes in a large bowl. Whisk red wine vinegar and 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil in a small bowl; season with salt and pepper. Pour vinegar dressing over bread mixture; toss to combine. Allow bread salad to rest for 20 minutes before serving.

ASPARAGUS PANZANELLA

Steps:

• Snap off and discard the tough ends of asparagus. Bring a medium saucepan of salted water to a boil; prepare an ice bath. Cook asparagus until bright green and just tender, 2 to 3 minutes. Transfer immediately to ice bath. Drain; place on a clean kitchen towel.
• In a large bowl, combine asparagus, cucumber, tomatoes, red onion, olives, capers, and bread; toss to combine.
• In a small bowl, whisk together red-wine vinegar and olive oil; season with salt and pepper. Pour vinaigrette over asparagus mixture, and toss until well coated. Let sit until bread absorbs juices, and serve.

PANZANELLA VERDE

Steps:

• For the bread: Heat a charcoal or gas grill to medium. Brush the bread with oil and season with salt and pepper. Grill on both sides until lightly golden brown. Remove, and cut into large dice. Set aside.
• For the vinaigrette: Combine the basil, vinegar, garlic, sugar and 1/4 cup water in a blender and blend until smooth. With the motor running, slowly add the oil and blend until emulsified. Season with salt and pepper.
• For the salad: Put the arugula, cucumbers, olives, capers, parsley and basil in a large bowl. Add three-quarters of the vinaigrette and toss to coat the vegetables. Add the bread and toss to coat. Transfer to a large platter and drizzle with the remaining vinaigrette and EVOO. Serve at room temperature.

SPRING PANZANELLA

Steps:

• Holding an asparagus spear in both hands, bend the spear until it breaks naturally at the point where the spear becomes tough. Discard the tough end. Repeat with the remaining asparagus. Cut off the tender tips and reserve.
• Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil over high heat. Add the asparagus tips and cook briefly, just until they lose their raw taste. Lift them out with a sieve or skimmer and let cool. Add the remaining portion of the asparagus spears and cook until tender enough to puree, then drain well.
• Put the asparagus spears basil, 6 tablespoons of the olive oil, and salt and pepper, to taste, in a blender or food processor. Puree until smooth.
• In a large bowl, combine the croutons, asparagus tips, peas, and green or spring onion. Add some of the asparagus puree and toss to coat well. Add more puree as needed to coat lightly and evenly. Add 3 tablespoons of the lemon juice and toss again. Taste and adjust the seasoning, then make an even layer of the mixture on a platter.
• In another bowl, combine the radicchio and spinach or arugula. Dress with the remaining 2 tablespoons olive oil, the remaining 1 teaspoon lemon juice, and salt and pepper to taste. Toss well, then mound on top of the dressed croutons. With a cheese plane or vegetable peeler, shave some ricotta salata over the top. Serve immediately.
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• Melt the butter in a large skillet over moderate heat and cook until it foams. Add the bread cubes and toss to coat with the butter. Transfer the bread to a baking sheet. Immediately sprinkle with the cheese and toss again while warm to melt the cheese.
• Bake, stirring once or twice, until the croutons are crisp and lightly colored on the outside but still soft within, about 10 to 12 minutes. Let cool. Store in an airtight container.
• Michael's Notes: I use a serrated knife to remove the crust from day-old bread, and then switch to a chef's knife to cut the cubes because it doesn't tear the bread. Also note that I recommend grating the Parmesan finely so that it will stick to the bread better.
• Yield: 4 to 4 1/2 cups
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• Melt the butter in a large skillet over moderate heat and cook until it foams. Add the bread cubes and toss to coat with the butter. Transfer the bread to a baking sheet. Immediately sprinkle with the cheese and toss again while warm to melt the cheese.
• Bake, stirring once or twice, until the croutons are crisp and lightly colored on the outside but still soft within, about 10 to12 minutes. Let cool. Store in an airtight
• container.

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.

ASPARAGUS PANZANELLA

Steps:

• Break off and discard the tough ends of asparagus (I save for stock).
• Bring a medium saucepan of salted water to a boil; prepare an ice bath.
• Cook asparagus until bright green and just tender, 2 to 3 minutes.
• Transfer immediately to ice bath.
• Drain; place on a clean kitchen towel.
• In a large bowl, combine asparagus, cucumber, tomatoes, red onion, olives, capers, and bread; toss to combine.
• In a small bowl, whisk together red-wine vinegar and olive oil; season with salt and pepper.
• Pour vinaigrette over asparagus mixture, and toss until well coated.
• Let sit until bread absorbs juices, and serve.
• Enjoy!

PANZANELLA

Steps:

• Heat the oven to 180C/160C fan/gas 4. Put the tomatoes in a colander and sprinkle over 1 tsp sea salt, then leave to sit for 15 mins.
• Spread the chunks of bread out on a baking tray and toss with 1 tbsp of the oil. Bake for 10-15 mins, or until lightly toasted.
• In a bowl, whisk together the remaining oil, the vinegar and shallot. Season to taste. Toss the anchovies with the tomatoes, croutons, olive oil dressing, the olives and half the basil in a large bowl. Spoon the panzanella onto a serving plate and top with the remaining basil.