Panzanella

Panzanella is traditionally a Tuscan dish made with stale bread and I like to use day old french loaf. It’s a really fresh and healthy salad type dish that is a meal in itself and perfect for summer lunches.

Open a bottle of great wine, a Rose is perfect with Panzanella, put a blanket or a small table and chairs out under the trees  and have a real Italian afternoon.

What you need for 4

1 French loaf cut into rough cubes
50ml Olive oil

30ml red wine vinegar

4 cups chopped cocktail tomatoes

1/2 cup thinly sliced onion

1 cup sliced seeded cucumber

Fist full of basil leaves torn up

Salt and pepper

The process

Slice the onions as finely as you can and sprinkle with a little salt.

In a large salad bowl add the bread cubes, onions and tomatoes, giving the tomatoes a squeeze over the bowl to release some of the juices and mix to combine well.

Pour over the olive oil, red wine vinegar and add the torn basil leaves and mix it well to combine all of the flavors. If you feel you need a little more olive oil add more now.

Add a good grind of black pepper and season with salt. Mix it again and you are ready to serve.

You will love the freshness of this dish and with a glass of red wine you could imagine yourself under a tree in a Tuscan village.

Add some cheese cubes for a more substantial meal.

If you like real home made Italian food you want to try some of the Italian food recipes