Day 111: My Quick Panzanella ♥

A repeat of the wonderful tomato-bread salad called Panzanella, except this time, without blanching the tomatoes.

Since making My First Panzanella last month, I knew that tomato + bread + stuff was the making of a meal, start to finish, tip to tail, top to toe. And so tonight it was. Supper.

This time I skipped blanching, peeling and seeding the tomatoes. This time I skipped the grill to toast the bread under the broiler. In fifteen minutes flat: a feast. Was something special lost in speed? Yes. No. Yes and no.

It's not that one is better than the other. It's that they're nearly two different salads. Where My First Panzanella is somehow plain and pure, My Quick Panzanella is plain and practical. They're both delicious. They're both keepers.

RECIPE for MY QUICK PANZANELLA

Active time: 15 minutes
Time to table: 15 minutes
Serves 2

2 stale sourdough rolls (or other stale bread)
2 large tomatoes, cored and diced
1/4 red onion, chopped fine
1/2 English cucumber, diced
1 fresh mozzarella ball, diced
5 or so fresh basil leaves, chopped
2 teaspoons minced garlic
2 tablespoons capers (these are important, try not to skip)
1 tablespoon good red wine vinegar
1 tablespoon good olive oil
Good salt and freshly ground pepper

Cut the bread into small cubes, briefly warming in the microwave to soften, if needed, before cutting. Place on a baking tray under the broiler for about 5 minutes, turning once.

Combine the tomatoes, onion, cucumber, basil, garlic and capers. (You could make a little ahead to this point.) Add the bread and combine well, letting the bread soak up the juices. Splash the vinegar and oil over the bowl and stir in. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Serve immediately.

ALANNA's TIPS & KITCHEN NOTES
TOMATOES Tonight I used beautiful yellow and red German tomatoes but plain red tomatoes are equally delicious.
CUCUMBER I didn't use tonight but think it really adds.
FRESH MOZZARELLA I did use this tonight and found it a waste of mozzarella, nothing bad, just nothing special ... who needs the calories and the expense?

NUTRITION INFORMATION
With mozzarella, per serving: 408 Calories; 22g Tot Fat; 9g Sat Fat; 44mg Cholesterol; 834mg Sodium; 39g Carb; 6g Fiber; 19g Protein. WEIGHT WATCHERS POINTS: WW Old Points 9 & WW PointsPlus 11 (yikes!)

Without mozzarella, per serving: 240 Calories; 9g Tot Fat; 1g Sat Fat; 0mg Cholesterol; 482mg Sodium; 37g Carb; 6g Fiber; 7g Protein. WEIGHT WATCHERS POINTS: WW Old Points 4 & WW PointsPlus 7

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