QUICK LEMONY PANZANELLA

Quick Lemony Panzanella image

A vegetable-forward alternative to garlic bread with a pasta dinner. This salad makes use of that delicious loaf of bread that's gone a little stale. Mr. Frilly does not like vinegary dressings so this salad gets its acid from some pickled banana pepper slices and a lemon, which pairs perfectly with the garlic and fresh herbs. I suggest serving with a crisp Pinot Grigio. If not serving immediately, stir every few minutes to make sure bread is soaking up those delicious juices. Serve at room temperature within a few hours. Leftovers can be refrigerated.

Provided by MsFrilly

Categories Salad

Time 35m

Yield 4

Number Of Ingredients 16

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Ingredients

2 tablespoons olive oil
½ loaf focaccia bread, cut into 1/4-inch slices
2 medium Roma tomatoes, seeded and diced
⅓ medium English cucumber, cubed
¼ cup diced red onion
¼ cup chopped orange bell pepper
¼ cup pitted Kalamata olives
5 pickled banana pepper rings
½ tablespoon chopped fresh basil
¼ tablespoon chopped fresh oregano
¼ tablespoon chopped fresh parsley
1 pinch salt and ground black pepper to taste
¼ cup olive oil
1 medium lemon, juiced
1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
1 clove garlic, peeled

Steps:

Preheat an outdoor grill for medium heat and lightly oil the grate.
Drizzle 2 tablespoons olive oil over both sides of the focaccia. Place on a grill pan or directly on the grill grate. Toast until nicely browned, flipping as needed, about 5 minutes.
Meanwhile, combine tomatoes, cucumber, onion, bell pepper, olives, banana peppers, basil, oregano, parsley, salt, and pepper in a nonreactive bowl. Add 1/4 cup olive oil, lemon juice, and Dijon mustard; stir until combined.
Remove focaccia from the grill and rub 1 side of each slice with garlic. Tear slices into bite-sized pieces. Add to the vegetables and stir to coat. Serve at room temperature.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 386.7 calories, Carbohydrate 37.1 g, Fat 24.9 g, Fiber 4.2 g, Protein 6.4 g, SaturatedFat 3.6 g, Sodium 1002.7 mg, Sugar 2.8 g