Nigella's Panzanella's Recipe

 Nigella Lawson has a slew of interesting recipes sent to her fans and foodies every day. One caught my eye - her panzanella recipe. This is Neopolitan bread salad, chewy and dense,a flavorful throwback to summer. I had to make it. I gave it some tweaks and made it my own.

It starts with a dense chewy bread like Italian or sourdough. I chose a chunky Italian loaf.

This was perfect for ripping into thick pieces, sort of like stuffing. Use half a loaf for an average sized salad.

It was then time for the tomatoes.

While Nigella uses beefsteak ones, I like the deep rich taste of the vine ripes. I cut up six tomatoes 

It was then mixing the two with a good half cup of olive oil and a fraction of a capful of red wine vinegar. Ms. Lawson also throws in a pinch of sugar but I don't like the taste or the idea of it. I omitted it as I did the chopped onion and garlic. Instead I used the powdered versions which gave the salad a lighter taste.

Everything was mixed and then placed in the fridge for a couple of hours. Nigella's panzanella is chilled overnight in the fridge which is great for summer. This is winter and a few hours did it. The bread and tomatoes were nicely soaked, and still chewy.

I added a sprinkle of oregano for some color and a dash of more flavor.

                                             it worked perfectly and there was very little left - unlike other salads.

                                   It's good as is but you can add in anchovies, olives, or shrimp if you want. it's a salad that can be customized.

 This panzanella salad is the perfect cure for those suffering from the winter blues. Try this version of Nigella Lawson's summery dish.It's a kiss of warm weather during chilly times.