Italian cuisine is well known for its focus on taste and preference for choosing quality, fresh seasonal ingredients. I love them all - the ripe tomatoes, the best olives and delicious pressed olive oils.
Panzanella is one of the most famous Italian salads, originally a dish from the 'poor man's kitchen' made with stale bread, ripe tomatoes and other leftovers. Today it has become a classic tasty salad and 'a guaranteed success' at the lunch or dinner table.
Panzanella is easy to combine with other dishes and this salad can be enjoyed as a starter or a light meal on its own. Or if you want to stick to a more traditional Italian menu, follow your pananella with a tasty risotto.
Preparation
- Preheat oven to 200 degrees Celsius.
- Prepare the bread: In a large bowl, toss bread with 1/3 cup olive oil, salt, pepper, and garlic. Lay bread on a baking sheet, and toast in the preheated oven until golden, about 5 to 10 minutes; allow to cool slightly.
- Prepare the vegetables: Cut tomatoes in wedges, roughly chop the cucumber and bell peppers and slice the onions.
- Prepare the dressing: by mixing the olive oil and vinegar.
- Toss all the ingredients and allow the flavours to combine for about half an hour before serving.
- Enjoy your classic Panzanella!