Panzanella Italian Bread
Panzanella: A Fabulous Italian Bread Dish
Tomatoes are one of the most versatile and flexible vegetables, and what you can do with them is only limited by your imagination. Below, you will find a recipe, which is one creative way of showing this delicious vegetable’s versatility.
In order to make Panzanella or Italian style bread appetizer, you will need the following ingredients:
6 cups day-old crusty peasant-style bread, cut or torn into bite size pieces
1/3 cup to ¼ cup olive oil
Sea salt and fresh ground pepper to taste
3 cloves garlic, minced
2 table spoons balsamic vinegar
4 medium tomatoes diced
¾ cup red onion, sliced
10 fresh basil leaves, shredded
½ cup pitted green olives, halved
1 cup mozzarella cheese (marinated, if desired), cut into bite size pieces
Before anything else, preheat your oven to 400 degrees. Toss the bread in 1/3 cup olive oil, sea salt, pepper, and garlic. When everything is fully coated, lay the bread on a baking sheet and toast in the preheated oven for about 15 to 20 minutes, or until the bread has turned into a golden brown color.
Remove the bread from the oven and cool slightly. In a separate bowl, whisk together ¼ cup olive oil and vinegar. Stir the toasted bread with the rest of the ingredients. Finally, add the vinaigrette. Let stand for about 20 minutes before serving, in order for the flavors to be fully absorbed and blended.
panzanella, Italian bread, bread appetizer
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