Bread Salad Recipes

PANZANELLA (ITALIAN BREAD SALAD)

Steps:

• In a bowl, combine the tomatoes, cucumber, onion, garlic and basil.
• Drizzle with the 1/2 cup olive oil and the 3 tblsps vinegar, season with salt and pepper and toss well.
• Place half of the bread in a wide, shallow bowl.
• Spoon half of the tomato mixture over the bread.
• Layer the remaining bread on top and then the remaining tomato mixture.
• Cover and refrigerate for 1 hour.
• Just before serving, toss the salad and adjust the seasonings with salt and pepper.
• If the bread seems dry, add a little oil or vinegar.
• Serve immediately.

MID-SUMMER ITALIAN BREAD SALAD

Steps:

• Rub a peeled clove of garlic around a wooden salad bowl.
• Pull apart or chop the bread into bite-size pieces.
• In the prepared salad bowl, combine the bread, tomatoes, cucumbers, red onions, garlic, basil and thyme. Add enough olive oil and vinegar to lightly coat, toss and serve.

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.

GARLIC BREAD SALAD

Steps:

• Cut baguette lengthwise in half; cut each half into two pieces. In a small bowl, combine the butter, tomatoes, pesto and garlic. Spread over cut sides of bread. Place on an ungreased baking sheet., Broil 3-4 in. from the heat for 2-3 minutes or until golden brown. Cool slightly. Meanwhile, toss romaine and salad dressing; divide among bread slices. Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese. Serve immediately.

WARM BREAD SALAD

Steps:

• Place currants in a small dish, add red wine vinegar and 1 tablespoon warm water, and set aside. Heat broiler. Place pine nuts in small baking dish, and toast under broiler until very lightly colored. Set aside.
• Cut bread into three or four large chunks. Closely trim off most of the crust and reserve, if desired, to toast and use for bread crumbs or to float in soup. Brush bread all over with 2 tablespoons olive oil. Briefly broil bread chunks, turning until crisp and golden on surface. Remove from oven, trim off any charred tips, and tear chunks into irregular pieces, from 2-inch wads to large crumbs. You should have 4 cups. Place in wide metal, glass or ceramic salad bowl.
• Whisk 1/4 cup olive oil with 1 1/2 tablespoons Champagne vinegar. Season with salt and pepper. Drizzle 1 1/2 tablespoons of this dressing over bread and toss.
• Place one tablespoon olive oil in a small skillet. Add garlic and scallions, and cook, stirring constantly, over low heat until softened but not colored. Add to bread and fold in. Drain currants and fold in. Add pine nuts and fold in. Drizzle salad with stock or water, and fold in. Taste a couple of pieces of bread. Add a little more vinegar, salt and pepper if necessary. Toss well, and transfer to a 4-cup baking dish. Tent lightly with foil. Do not wash salad bowl. Set salad aside until about 30 minutes before serving time.
• Heat oven to 450 degrees. Place bread salad in oven, turn off heat, and leave for 15 minutes. Return salad to bowl. Add greens, remaining vinaigrette, and enough of remaining olive oil so bread is not dry. Toss again. Serve with grilled or roasted meat.

ITALIAN BREAD SALAD (PANZANELLA)

Steps:

• If your bread is very hard, douse it with water first and saw it into a few pieces that will fit into a medium bowl. Cover with the onions. Pour on cold water to cover and let sit for 20 minutes. Lift the onions off the bread and rinse in a strainer. Drain the bread, squeeze out excess water and crumble the bread into a salad bowl.
• Add the tomatoes, basil, and parsley to the bowl. Mix together the vinegar, garlic, salt, pepper, and olive oil, and toss with the bread mixture. Cover and refrigerate for 1 hour or longer before serving.

BREAD SALAD

Steps:

• Combine bread, tomatoes and basil in large bowl.
• In food processor with metal blade, chop garlic and salt. Add rosemary, hot pepper flakes and vinegar.
• Add olive oil in a stream to emulsify.
• Toss bread mixture and dressing.
• Allow to stand for at least 20 minutes so the bread can absorb the dressing.

BREAD SALAD

Steps:

• In a large bowl, combine tomatoes, bell pepper, cucumber, onion, and capers. In a small bowl, whisk together the vinegar and oil; season, to taste, with salt and pepper. Pour dressing over vegetables and toss thoroughly but gently. Spread croutons in a single layer in a large serving bowl. Spoon vegetables evenly over the croutons and pour any remaining liquid in the bowl over all.

RUSTIC BREAD SALAD

Steps:

• 1. Preheat the oven to 350°F.
• 2. Toss the bread cubes with 3 tablespoons of the olive oil, the salt, and pepper. Spread the bread cubes in a single layer on a baking sheet and bake until slightly toasted and golden, about 15 minutes, shaking the pan occasionally. Set aside.
• 3. Halve the cucumber lengthwise and cut into 1/2-inch pieces. Place in a large bowl along with the red pepper, celery, carrots, onion, tomatoes, basil, and mint. Season with salt and pepper. Add the bread cubes. Drizzle the salad with the remaining 4 tablespoons of olive oil and the vinegar. Toss the salad and garnish with the chopped eggs.

BREAD AND TOMATO SALAD

Steps:

• In a large bowl, combine the bread, tomatoes, basil and onion. In a small bowl, whisk together the remaining ingredients; drizzle over bread mixture. Cover and let stand for 30 minutes before serving.

ITALIAN BREAD SALAD

Steps:

• In a large bowl, whisk together oil and lemon juice; season with salt and pepper. Add tomatoes, cucumber, fennel, onion, and olives. Toss to combine. Refrigerate for at least 1 hour and up to 4 hours.
• Heat broiler with rack set 4 inches from heat. On a baking sheet, toast bread until light brown on both sides, 1 to 2 minutes a side. Place the bread on a work surface and rub cut side of garlic against bread. Discard garlic. Cut bread into 2-inch pieces.
• To serve: Place bread in four shallow bowls. Top with tomato salad and scatter basil and cheese over top.

FRENCH BREAD SALAD

Steps:

• Tear bread into 1-inch pieces. Mix bread and remaining ingredients in large glass or plastic bowl.
• Cover and refrigerate, stirring once, at least 1 hour to blend flavors and soften bread. Stir before serving.