Mediterranean Salad With Olive Bread Croutons Recipes

MEDITERRANEAN SALAD WITH OLIVE-BREAD CROUTONS

Steps:

• Make the croutons: Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Toss bread with oil on a rimmed baking sheet. Bake until golden brown, 15 to 20 minutes. Let cool. (Croutons can be stored in an airtight container up to 1 week.)
• Make the dressing: Puree shallot, vinegar, and lemon juice in a blender. With machine running, gradually add oil in a slow, steady stream until emulsified. Season with salt and pepper.
• Make the salad: Toss together salad ingredients. Sprinkle with croutons, and drizzle with dressing. Serve immediately.

CROUTONS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• Remove crusts from stale bread slices. Brush bread on both sides with melted butter. Cut bread slices up into small cubes. Sprinkle with garlic salt (if desired). Arrange cubes on an ungreased cookie sheet.
• Bake at 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) for 15 minutes or until browned. Let cool. Store croutons in a covered container or plastic bag. Serve in soups or salads.

CUCUMBER-TOMATO SALAD WITH SEARED HALLOUMI AND OLIVE OIL CROUTONS

Steps:

• Make the croutons: Heat oven to 400 degrees. Cut each slice of bread into 1-inch-wide strips. Tear each strip into 1-inch pieces, removing the crust as you go if it is very thick. Transfer to a large baking sheet (or use 2 sheets, if necessary to prevent crowding). Drizzle with olive oil and toss until evenly coated.
• Bake until golden brown and crunchy on the outside, 18 to 22 minutes, rotating the baking sheet and turning the croutons halfway through so they brown evenly, and checking them every few minutes. Taste and adjust the seasoning with a light sprinkling of salt, if needed. Let cool on the baking sheet.
• Make the salad: In a colander in the sink, toss the cucumbers with about 1/2 teaspoon salt. Place a bag of ice cubes or an ice pack on top to chill and firm the cucumbers. Let drain while you prepare the other ingredients.
• In a large bowl, combine the tomatoes with about 1/2 teaspoon salt. Toss and set aside while you prepare the other ingredients.
• Slice the halloumi about 1/4-inch thick, then cut into bite-size strips. Smash and peel the garlic cloves and combine with 1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil in a small bowl to steep.
• Pour off excess liquid from the bowl holding the tomatoes. Add drained cucumbers, red onion or scallions, fresh herbs and 2 tablespoons vinegar to tomatoes and toss well. Remove and discard the garlic cloves from the extra-virgin olive oil, add the oil to tomatoes and mix well. (If desired, the salad can be made up until this point and refrigerated for 30 minutes to 1 hour. Drain off excess liquid in the bottom of the bowl before proceeding.)
• When ready to serve, add about half the croutons to the salad and toss so they can absorb the liquid. Taste and adjust the seasonings with salt, pepper, extra-virgin olive oil and vinegar.
• Cook the halloumi: Line a plate with paper towels and lightly coat a nonstick skillet with extra-virgin olive oil. Heat oil over medium-high until rippling. Working in batches, cook the halloumi strips on both sides until golden-brown and crusty, about 1 minute per side. Remove to the plate to drain.
• Taste and add more croutons to salad as desired. (If there are too many, the salad will be starchy; too few, and it will be wet.) At the last minute, toss in the halloumi, add another good glug of extra-virgin olive oil, mix gently and serve immediately. (If desired, transfer to a clean bowl or platter for serving.)

MEDITERRANEAN OLIVE BREAD

Steps:

• Combine yeast and warm water in small bowl and let stand about 5 minutes.
• In large mixer bowl, beat sugar and butter until blended. Add eggs, one at a time, beating after each addition, then finally stir in yeast mixture.
• Add 1 1/2 cups of the flour and beat at medium speed for 10 minutes Stir in 1 1/2 cups more flour just till moistened. Scrape dough out onto a lightly floured board and knead, adding flour to prevent sticking , until dough is smooth (about 7 mins.). Put dough in a lightly greased bowl and turn over to grease the top.
• Cover bowl with plastic wrap and let stand in a warm place until dough is doubled in size, about 1 1/2 hours (I find my oven, even when turned off, is the warmest place in my house).
• Drain olives well, then pat dry.
• Turn dough out on a lightly floured board and knead to expel air; add flour to prevent sticking. Pat dough into a 14-16 inch square. Scatter olives eenly over the dough and press in lightly. (Optional, at this point I also like to add my garlic and scatter it between the olives).
• Roll up dough to enclose olives and place seam side down on a greased 12x15 inch baking sheet. Turn open ends of dough under to make a smooth surface. Pat loaf to flatten and shape it into an oval about 1 3/4 inches thick. Cover with plastic wrap and let stand in a warm place until puffy, about 30 minutes.
• Uncover loaf and brush with egg yolk. Bake in a 325 degree Fahrenheit oven that's been preheated, baking about 45 minutes Transfer to rack to cool for at least 10 minutes Serve warm or at room temperature.
• If made ahead, let cool, package airtight, and let stand overnight at room temperature Freeze to store longer; let thaw, wrapped, at least 6 hours. To reheat, place unwrapped loaf on a 12x15 inch pan in a 325 degree oven for 20-30 minutes
• (The original recipe also recommended using either unsalted butter or "Anchovy Butter [food process 5 drained anchovy fillets with 1/2 cup unsalted butter, and it can be stored covered and chilled for up to a week] but I don't use it since my children would refuse anything with Anchovies.).

MEDITERRANEAN ROMAINE SALAD

Steps:

• Place cubed bread on an ungreased 15x10x1-in. baking pan. Combine oil and garlic; drizzle over bread and toss to coat. Bake at 400° for 6-8 minutes or until golden brown, stirring once. Set aside., In a large bowl, combine the artichokes, red peppers, cucumber, celery, olives and onion; add vinaigrette and toss to coat. Just before serving, place romaine in another bowl. Add artichoke mixture and croutons; toss to coat. Sprinkle with pepper; top with cheese if desired.

MEDITERRANEAN TUNA SALAD WITH CROUTONS

Steps:

• In a large skillet, toss bread with 2 tablespoons oil; season with salt and pepper. Cook over medium heat, tossing frequently, until croutons are golden and crisp, 10 to 12 minutes. Set aside.
• Finely chop garlic, and sprinkle with salt. Using a chef's knife, press the flat side of the blade back and forth across garlic to make a paste. Transfer to a large bowl; whisk in lemon juice, mustard, and remaining oil. Season dressing with salt and pepper.
• To bowl, add lettuce, tomatoes, cucumber, olives, and croutons; toss to combine. Divide salad among four plates, and top with tuna.

MEDITERRANEAN TABBOULEH SALAD

Steps:

• Prepare Multi-Grain Medley according to package directions, substituting broth for water. Cool.
• In a large bowl whisk together olive oil, lemon juice, shallots and mustard. Fold in Multi-Grain Medley and remaining ingredients. Season with salt and pepper to taste. If desired, top with feta cheese.

MEDITERRANEAN CHEF SALAD WITH POLENTA CROUTONS

Steps:

• Heat oven to 400°F. Halve polenta lengthwise, then halve each piece lengthwise. Slice crosswise 7 times (to yield 32 triangles). Coat a small baking sheet with cooking spray; evenly arrange triangles; coat tops with cooking spray. Place tomatoes on a small rimmed baking sheet; spray with oil and toss. Place both sheets in oven for 10 minutes; remove tomatoes from oven and stir. Return to oven and cook until croutons are toasted on 1 side and tomatoes are wrinkled and brown in spots, about 20 minutes more. Remove tomatoes. Flip croutons; return to oven for 20 minutes more. Pour vinegar over tomatoes; transfer to a bowl. Mix in beans, salt, pepper and pepper flakes; set aside. Divide romaine and basil among 4 plates. Pour tomato mixture over greens; top with croutons and cheese.

CRISPY CROUTON SALAD

Steps:

• Place bread cubes in a single layer in an ungreased 15x10x1-in. baking pan. Bake at 450° for 6-8 minutes or until golden brown, stirring twice. Cool., In a large bowl, combine the tomatoes, mozzarella, yellow pepper and basil. In a small bowl, whisk the oil, vinegar, garlic, salt and pepper. Pour over salad and toss to coat. Sprinkle with croutons.

CHOPPED SALAD WITH FETA, OLIVES, AND PITA CROUTONS

Steps:

• In a skillet heat olive oil over moderate heat until hot but not smoking and cook pita, stirring occasionally, until golden. Season croutons with salt and pepper to taste and transfer to paper towels to drain.
• In a large bowl combine romaine, bell peppers, onion, feta, and olives and drizzle with extra-virgin olive oil and vinegar. Add croutons and salt and pepper to taste and toss to combine.

MEDITERRANEAN SALAD WITH OLIVE - BREAD CROUTONS

Steps:

• Make the croutons: Preheat the oven to 350°F Toss the bread with oil on a rimmed baking sheet. Bake until golden brown, 15-20 minutes. Let cool. (croutons can be stored in an airtight container for up to 1 week).
• For the dressing: Purée shallot, vinegar and lemon juice in a blender. With machine still running, gradually add oil in a slow steady stream until emulsified. Season with salt and pepper.
• Fro the salad: Toss together salad ingredients. Sprinkle with croutons and drizzle with dressing. Serve immediatley.