Imagine a dish that captures the essence of Italian summer in every single bite - a vibrant bread salad that turns simple ingredients into a culinary symphony! This Bread Salad with Charred Tomatoes, Cucumber, and Olives isn't just a recipe; it's a delicious journey through rustic Mediterranean flavors that will transport your taste buds to a sun-drenched Italian countryside. Perfect for those seeking a refreshing, no-fuss meal that looks gourmet but requires minimal effort, this recipe is about to become your new favorite summer dish.
Prep Time: 15 mins
Cook Time: 20 mins
Total Time: 35 mins
Cuisine: Italian
Serves: 4 servings
Ingredients
- Stale bread
- Cherry tomatoes
- Cucumber
- Olives
- Basil
- Balsamic vinegar
- Olive oil
Instructions
- Preheat a grill or cast-iron skillet to high heat. If using a skillet, ensure it's well-seasoned and very hot.
- Cut stale bread into 1-inch cubes. If the bread is not stale, spread cubes on a baking sheet and dry in a 300°F oven for 10-15 minutes until slightly crisp.
- Halve the cherry tomatoes and place them on a hot grill or skillet. Char for 2-3 minutes until they develop dark blistered spots and start to soften.
- Dice the cucumber into roughly 1/2-inch pieces. Remove seeds if the cucumber is large and watery.
- Roughly chop the olives, preferably using a mix of black and green varieties for complexity.
- In a large mixing bowl, combine the bread cubes, charred tomatoes, cucumber, and chopped olives.
- Tear fresh basil leaves and add them to the mixture.
- Whisk together balsamic vinegar and olive oil in a small bowl to create a dressing. Use a ratio of 3 parts olive oil to 1 part balsamic vinegar.
- Pour the dressing over the salad and toss gently to combine, ensuring all ingredients are well coated.
- Let the salad sit for 10 minutes to allow bread to absorb dressing and flavors to meld.
- Taste and adjust seasoning with salt and freshly ground black pepper as needed.
- Serve at room temperature, garnishing with additional fresh basil leaves if desired.
Tips
- Use truly stale bread for the best texture - day-old or slightly dried bread absorbs dressing beautifully without becoming mushy.
- When charring tomatoes, aim for a high heat that creates beautiful dark spots without completely destroying their structure.
- Choose a mix of olive varieties for more complex flavor - combining black and green olives adds depth to the salad.
- Let the salad rest for at least 10 minutes before serving to allow flavors to meld and bread to absorb the dressing.
- Use high-quality extra virgin olive oil and balsamic vinegar, as these are key to the salad's overall taste.
- If you don't have a grill, a cast-iron skillet works perfectly for charring tomatoes.
- Feel free to add protein like mozzarella or grilled chicken to make this a more substantial meal.
Nutrition Facts
Calories: 180kcal
Carbohydrates: 25g
Protein: 5g
Fat: 8g
Saturated Fat: g
Cholesterol: 0mg
