Panzanella Recipe

Reader Contribution by Sue Van Slooten
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In my last blog I promised an Italian salad called Panzanella, and it’s a wonderful way to use up leftover stale bread. Personally, I would use sourdough, but any good crusty, homemade bread would work. As it has been a while since I did this, I thought a little research would be in order. I remembered it as having bread chunks, tomatoes, garlic, olive oil, some good vinegar, like a red wine, or my favourite, balsamic.   

My research came down to one recipe, but as the author, Carol Field, of this particular book, The Italian Baker, says, it’s not so much of a recipe, as, you just sort of throw it together with what’s on hand. Incidentally, I have the old version of her book from 1985; she now has a new, updated version out. I have it, but haven’t chewed through my book pile to it yet. It will be a delight, I’m sure.   

Panzanella is nothing more that chunked bread, sliced or chunked tomatoes, sliced cucumbers, some onions, preferably the red ones, all mixed in a large bowl. You can use any proportion of veggie to bread ratio you like, this will be your salad, your way. Frank would be proud. A handful of basil leaves to me would be a must, as well as garlic. Most people don’t care for raw garlic very much, but if I were using garlic, I would rub the bowl with a cut clove first. On the other hand, if raw garlic is your thing, by all means, go for it. Some other veggie options might celery and carrots, chopped. Ms. Field mentions further down in her recipe that the Romans like it spicy, with capers and anchovies (gasp), the aforementioned garlic, and hard-boiled eggs. This would be the way I would make this salad, as it really turns it into a meal. Maybe a little tuna too. Don’t forget salt and fresh pepper to taste. In a way, this salad is like pasta salad:  Anything goes, and you can’t go wrong.   

As for the dressing, again, the best oil you can afford is a good choice. If it’s a spicy one, so much the better. Also important is a good vinegar. You can mix the two together to your taste and then pour over the salad. If you’re the more free wheeling type, just sprinkle it on until you have the proportions and moistness you like. Toss well. You can always add more if it’s drier than you like.   

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