Panzanella (Tuscan bread salad)

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Serves 5

Ready in 30 minutes

 

400 grams of bread (unsalted if available)

1 small cucumber

200 gr of ripe tomaotes

2 carrots

2 medium size red onions

one third of glass fo vinegar (according to your taste you can increase or decrease quantities)

half glass of water (as needed)

salt and pepper

5 tbs extra virgin olive oil

 

Slice the bread and cut off roughly the crust. Put it in a container and drench it with half of the vinegar and the water. Make it moist back again but do not over-moist it, it should soft but still compact.

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Meanwhile slice finely the onions, the peeled cucumber and the carrot. Put in a container the onions and season them with salt and pepper and the remaining vinegar. Set aside for a few minutes the other vegetables while preparing the other ingredients.

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Dice the tomatoes and add them to the onions along with the other vegetables.

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Crumble roughly the marinated bread onto the vegetables, mix well, add the diced tomatoes, season with olive oil and salt and pepper. Refrigerate for 2 hours to get the best.

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Before serving season with, oil, salt and vinegar and add the basil leaves roughly chopped. Sprinkle with pepper.

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