Directions for: Prairie Panzanella with Cherry Vinaigrette
Ingredients
Vinaigrettecup (120 mL) extra virgin olive oil
cup (60 mL) apple cider vinegar
cup (60 mL) shallots, finely chopped
cup (60 mL) Over The Hill Orchard Prairie Cherry Spread or lightly sweetened cherry jam
1 Tbsp (15 mL) freshly ground black pepper
Croutons6 slices ACE Bakery Cranberry Raisin Focaccia or Calabrese Oval, sliced 3/4-inch (1.9 cm) thick and then cut into 3/4-inch (1.9 cm) cubes
cup (60 mL) unsalted butter
2 clove garlic, peeled and minced
1 Tbsp (15 mL) fresh sage, chopped
2 tsp (10 mL) fresh thyme, chopped
tsp (2.5 mL) sea salt
tsp (2.5 mL) freshly ground black pepper
Salad1 large radicchio, halved and cored
8 oz (225 g) pancetta, 1/4-inch (6 mm) dice, sauted until crisp
8 oz (225 g) asparagus, bias cut into 1-inch (2.5 cm) pieces
4 oz (112 g) pumpkin seeds, toasted
6 oz (170 g) soft chvre, crumbled
Directions
Vinaigrette1. Preheat the oven to 400F (200C).
2. For the vinaigrette, whisk the olive oil, vinegar, shallots, cherry spread and pepper together in a small bowl.
Croutons1. For the croutons, place the focaccia cubes in a large bowl. Melt the butter in a small skillet over medium heat; add the garlic, sage and thyme and saut until fragrant but not browned, about 1 minute. Pour the butter mixture over the focaccia cubes and toss to coat evenly.
2. Spread the cubes out onto a baking sheet. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Bake the croutons until pale golden, about 8 to 10 minutes.
Salad1. For the salad, slice the radicchio into -inch (1.2-cm) ribbons and soak in a large bowl of iced water for at least 1 hour. This will crisp up the lettuce and remove any bitterness in the leaves. Drain and dry.
2. Steam or boil the asparagus until tender crisp, about 2 minutes. Drain and plunge the asparagus into a large bowl of iced water to stop the cooking and to keep the bright green colour. When cool, drain and pat dry.
3. Combine the croutons, cooked pancetta, asparagus and pumpkin seeds in a large bowl. Add the radicchio to the salad and enough vinaigrette to coat, tossing to combine. Transfer salad to a large, shallow bowl. Sprinkle with cheese and serve.
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