SARDINIAN OLD BREAD AND TOMATO CASSEROLE

Sardinian Old Bread and Tomato Casserole image

Yield makes 6 servings

Number Of Ingredients 7

3 pounds ripe fresh plum tomatoes, peeled and seeded (page 9), or one 28-ounce can Italian plum tomatoes (preferably San Marzano)
1 teaspoon sea salt, plus additional salt for water
1 pound day-old dry, crusty Italian bread, sliced (about sixteen 3/4-inch slices)
1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
1 large yellow onion, sliced (about 2 cups)
1/4 cup chopped fresh oregano
2 cups grated Pecorino Romano cheese

Steps:

Pass the tomatoes through a food mill fitted with the fine disc and set aside. (Alternatively, process the tomatoes in a food processor, using quick on/off pulses until smooth. Don't overprocess the tomatoes or you will incorporate air into them and the sauce will look pink.)
Bring 2 quarts of salted water to boil in a saucepan. Dunk the bread slices, one by one, into the boiling water for a second or two-just long enough to wet them-and set them on a clean kitchen towel to drain. Press the moistened bread lightly to remove excess water.
Heat 3 tablespoons of the oil in a medium skillet over medium heat. Scatter the onion in the skillet and cook, stirring, until golden, about 8 minutes. Pour in the tomatoes and bring to a boil. Lower the heat so the sauce is simmering, and cook until the sauce is lightly thickened, about 20 minutes. Stir in the oregano and cook an additional 5 minutes.
Preheat the oven to 375° F. Oil an 11-inch oval baking dish (or equivalent-size baking dish) with the remaining 1 tablespoon oil. Spoon in enough of the tomato sauce to coat the bottom, and arrange half the bread slices over the sauce, tearing them and wedging them as necessary to make an even layer. Spoon half the remaining tomato sauce over the bread and sprinkle half the Pecorino over the sauce. Make another layer of bread slices, tomato sauce, and cheese.
Bake until the casserole is heated through and the cheese topping is browned, about 25 minutes.