Panzanella or Bruschetta Salad

What better way to use up leftover bread and veggies? This recipe was quick and delicious. Even if the bread and veggies sit in that wonderful dressing, the better it gets!! A tasty bruschetta salad that my Husband absolutely loved! Very appetizing! We thought this was an excellent panzanella. I will definitely make again. I have seen this made on several chopped shows and kept thinking I really need to do this, and I am so very happy I did.

If you have trepidations because of the bread in a sauce; DON”T, I repeat DON”T; there is no reason to be worried about bread in a salad, we use croutons all the time… right???  Try it and I guarantee that you won’t have any leftovers.

For something that is so amazingly easy…. I am punching myself for not making this before.  This will certainly be on the menu more often and especially when we have company.

• 3 cups day old Italian bread, torn into bite-size pieces
• 2 tablespoons and 2 teaspoons olive oil
• salt and pepper to taste
• 1-1/2 cloves garlic, minced
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
• 2 medium ripe tomatoes, cut into wedges
• 1/4 cup and 2 tablespoons sliced red onion
• 5 basil leaves, shredded
• 1/4 cup pitted and halved green olives
• 1/2 cup fresh mozzarella, cut into bite-size pieces

So if you don’t have super hard bread to use, then cut up the bread  you have into bite size pieces and leave them out to let nature create the hard crusty bread pieces you need.

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C).

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.

While the bread is in the oven, whisk together 1/4 cup of olive oil and balsamic vinegar. Gently toss together the bread, tomatoes, onion, basil, olives, and mozzarella cheese. Toss with the vinaigrette and let stand for 20 minutes before serving.

If you know the meal itself will take longer then mix before eating and allow it to sit some to get the flavors to mix and mingle.  Yummy

Maybe not one of the prettiest dishes around, but I guarantee it will be one of the tastiest you can serve!

I hope you enjoyed the recipe, and as always if you want to comment or reach me you can do so by the comment section or by email at LauraLovingLife@hotmail.com

LauraLovingLife