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.

CLASSIC PANZANELLA SALAD (TUSCAN-STYLE TOMATO AND BREAD SALAD) RECIPE

Steps:

• Meanwhile, preheat oven to 350°F (180°C) and adjust rack to center position. In a large bowl, toss bread cubes with 2 tablespoons (30ml) olive oil. Transfer to a rimmed baking sheet. Bake about 15 minutes, until crisp and firm but not browned. Remove from oven and let cool.

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.

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.

TUSCAN PANZANELLA

Steps:

• Preheat grill to medium-high. (Alternatively, heat a grill pan over mediumhigh heat until hot.) Using 3 tablespoons of oil, brush bread slices on both sides.
• Grill bread slices, turning once, until toasted on both sides, about 5 minutes total. Rub both sides with halved garlic. Tear into bite-size pieces.
• Toss bread, tomatoes, onion, bocconcini, and sliced basil in a serving bowl.
• Whisk together vinegar and minced garlic in a small bowl. Whisking constantly, pour in remaining 6 tablespoons oil in a slow, steady stream, and whisk until emulsified. Pour over salad. Season with salt and pepper. Let stand at room temperature, tossing occasionally, 1 hour. Garnish with whole basil leaves.

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.

PANZANELLA

Steps:

• Cut the crusts off the bread, and cut the bread into chunks. Place in a bowl and cover with water. Leave for 15 minutes. Then drain, and squeeze the bread dry between your hands. Tear the bread into rough chunks, and place in a large salad bowl. You should have at least 2 cups of torn bread pieces.
• Add thinly sliced onion to the bread and mix well. Cut the tomatoes into large bite-size chunks and add to the bowl. Chop the basil, add it, and then mix the contents of the bowl well.
• In a separate small bowl, place the salt. Mash the clove of garlic with a knife blade, chop it roughly and add to the salt. Using the back of a spoon, crush the garlic in the salt to form a smooth paste. Add oil and vinegar and mix well.
• Add the dressing to the salad, and mix together very well. Set aside, covered, in a cool place for an hour or longer to develop flavors.

CLASSIC PANZANELLA

Steps:

• Fill a bowl with enough cold water to cover onion slices. Let onion soak about 30 minutes, changing the water three or four times. Drain, and transfer to a large bowl or dish. Cover bread with cold water, and let stand until the bread is softened and heavy with water, about 10 minutes.
• Squeeze the bread between your palms to remove as much water as possible.
• Arrange bread on a double layer of paper towels. Cover with another double layer of paper towels, and press down to extract any remaining water. Remove top layer of towels, and sprinkle bread with about 1 teaspoon salt. Set aside for 5 minutes. Using fingers, pluck bread into bite-size pieces, and transfer to the dish containing the onions.
• Add the tomatoes and cucumbers.
• Drizzle the oil and vinegar over the salad; season with salt and pepper.
• Tear the basil leaves in half; add to the bowl. Gently toss to combine. Set aside in a cool place, 30 to 45 minutes. Toss, and serve.