Wookiee Hut Cuisine presents:
 Panzanella
by SuSu, MaceVindaloo, Sparticus

The crew of Serenity saw fresh vegetables and bread so infrequently, even when they were dirtside, that a crate could buy your passage just about anywhere in the outer regions of the galaxy. That's how Shepherd Book managed to pay for his berth.

But there would still be leftovers, as much as the passengers and crew tried to eat it all. This salad is a good way to use up the freshest and juiciest of tomatoes and the firmest of stale bread. Add some salt, pepper, oil, vinegar, and herbs and Shepherd Book can present a dish that's so good that the crew won't ever feel bad to leave the fruits of the earth over at any meal!
  • 12 to 16 oz (335 g to 450 g) stale firm-textured bread like ciabatta that won't fall apart when it gets wet
  • 8 tomatoes, very ripe
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • ½ cup olive oil
  • ¼ cup red wine vinegar
  • ½ cup finely sliced fresh basil (chiffonade)
  • salt, to taste
  • freshly ground pepper, to taste
Slice the bread and toast or grill it till lightly browned on both sides. Cube the bread and place in a large bowl. Cut the tomatoes into chunks about the same size as the bread cubes and put them into the same bowl as the bread. In another bowl, whisk together the garlic, oil, vinegar. Pour over the bread and tomatoes, and toss with the basil to combine evenly. Add salt and pepper, to taste. Cover the whole mixture and allow to sit at room temperature for at least an hour, or overnight.

This is a great side dish with grilled meats, or just on its own. Serves 4 as a main course, or up to 10 as a side dish.
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