Bread of the day: Fresh Fava Panzanella. Greetings friends. - TopicsExpress

Bread of the day: Fresh Fava Panzanella. Greetings friends. Todays dish, is one that I have wanted to make for a long time. Its really a lof of fun, healthy, and its delicious. Open a bottle of wine and invite your family/friends into your kitchen to help shell the beans. After the beans have been prepared, the rest is simple and this flavorful salad comes together pretty quickly. The amount of vinaigrette may seem excessive, but it is used to dress both the croutons and the vegetables. Panzanella traditionally calls for stale bread soaked ahead of time in water, pressed dry, and then tossed and dressed with the other ingredients. Instead, I use fried bread croutons. Once the croutons are dressed, the exterior softens slightly, leaving the contrasting interior crunch intact. Ingredients 1. 1 red onion, cut into slices 1/4 thick. 2. 1/2 cup red wine vinegar. 3. 4 pounds fava beans, shelled. 4. Croutons, made from 4 slices day old Country bread. I love making these. 5. 1 bunch mint, stems removed. Lemon Vinaigrette 1. Grated zest and juice of 2 lemons. 2. 1 teaspoon sugar. 3. 1 cup olive oil. 4. 1/4 teaspoon salt. Process 1. Place the onion slices in a bowl and pour the vinegar over the slices. Add just enough water to cover the slices completely. Set aside for 30 minutes. The onions will soften slightly and take on a bright pink hue. 2. Meanwhile, bring a pot of water to boil. Fill a bowl with ice water and place it near the stove. Add the fava beans to boiling water and cook for 1 minute. Drain and transfer to the ice water to cool. Peel the opaque outer layer from each bean. 3. In a serving bowl, combine the fava beans, croutons, and the mint leaves. Remove the onions from the vinegar and add to the bowl. 4. To make the vinaigrette, in a bowl, stir together the lemon zest and juice, sugar, and olive oil. Season to taste with the salt, adding a pinch at a time. Pour the vinaigrette over the salad and toss. Let stand for 1 minute before serving. Friends, I present for your enjoyment Fresh Fava Panzanella. Wasnt that easy? And, its so delicious and healthy. The great lesson about this dish is that you can use homemade bread in so many different ways. You never have to throw away bread for any reason. Let me know your thoughts. I appreciate your feedback and support. Cheers.