Ina Garten's Greek panzanella salad will transport you to Greece, no passport required

I made Ina Garten's Greek panzanella salad, and it's perfect for summer.Nathan Congleton/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty Images via Getty ImagesI tried Ina Garten's Greek panzanella salad.The easy dish features cucumber, bell peppers, cherry tomatoes, and homemade croutons.Garten's salad is fresh, juicy, crunchy, and oh so perfect for summer.As the child of Greek immigrants, the classic Greek salad was always a staple of the family dinner table.I've taken that dish with me no matter where I've lived in the world, often making it for a quick and healthy lunch or dinner.While there are some rules I'll never break when it comes to the recipe — stop adding lettuce! — I love trying new versions of the classic Greek dish. And when I stumbled on an Ina Garten recipe featuring homemade croutons, I knew I had to try it.Turns out, it's one of the best Barefoot Contessa summer recipes.Garten's Greek panzanella salad adds a fresh twist to the classic Italian dish.Ingredients for Ina Garten's Greek panzanella salad.Anneta Konstantinides/Business InsiderTo make Garten's Greek panzanella salad at home, you'll need:Good olive oil6 cups of "rustic" or French bread, diced into 1-inch cubes1 hothouse cucumber, unpeeled and seeded, halved lengthwise and sliced ½-inch thick1 red bell pepper, large-diced1 yellow bell pepper, large-diced1 pint of cherry or grape tomatoes, halved½ red onion, thinly sliced into half-rounds½ pound of good feta cheese, cut into ½-inch cubes½ cup of kalamata olives, pittedTo make the vinaigrette, you'll need:2 cloves of garlic, minced¼ cup of good red wine vinegar1 teaspoon of dried oregano1 teaspoon of salt½ teaspoon of Dijon mustard½ teaspoon of freshly ground black pepperOne thing to note: I couldn't find French or "rustic" bread at my local supermarket, so I opted for some thick-sliced white bread. The croutons still came out great!Before assembling the salad, I needed to make the homemade croutons.Cubing bread for Garten's homemade croutons.Anneta Konstantinides/Business InsiderAfter dicing my bread into cubes, I added ¼ cup of olive oil to a large sauté pan and allowed it to heat up.I knew the pan was ready by using a trick I learned from Martha Stewart. If you sprinkle a few drops of water on top and the oil begins to sizzle, it's hot enough.I added my bread cubes to the pan and seasoned them with salt and pepper.Making the homemade croutons.Anneta Konstantinides/Business InsiderGarten recommends cooking the bread cubes over low to medium heat, tossing frequently, until they're lightly browned. Don't be afraid to add more olive oil if you need!While the croutons were cooking, I began chopping my veggies.My chopped bell peppers.Anneta Konstantinides/Business InsiderI seeded and diced my bell peppers, sliced my cucumber and red onion, and halved my tomatoes.After about 10 minutes, my croutons were ready.My homemade croutons.Anneta Konstantinides/Business InsiderMy croutons had turned a lovely golden brown, and I knew they would look beautiful in the salad.It was time to assemble the Greek panzanella salad!Adding the prepared veggies to a salad bowl.Anneta Konstantinides/Business InsiderI threw the cucumbers, bell peppers, tomatoes, and red onions into a large bowl and tossed everything together.Then, I whipped up the vinaigrette.Making the vinaigrette for the salad.Anneta Konstantinides/Business InsiderI added the red wine vinegar, minced garlic, dried oregano, and Dijon mustard into a small bowl, sprinkling one teaspoon of salt and ½ teaspoon of freshly ground black pepper on top before I whisked everything together.As I continued to whisk, I slowly added ½ cup of olive oil to make an emulsion. Just like that, my dressing was ready.I poured my vinaigrette over the veggies, then added the feta, olives, and croutons. My salad looked beautiful.Ina Garten's Greek panzanella salad.Anneta Konstantinides/Business InsiderI lightly tossed everything together and let the salad sit for 30 minutes so the flavors could develop. Then, it was time to dig in!Garten's Greek panzanella salad is a beautiful dance of fresh flavors and crisp textures. It's crunchy, juicy, and so colorful, making it a perfect dish for summer. The homemade croutons were worth the extra effort, and I recommend adding smoked kalamata olives for an even bigger burst of flavor.I've made this for two different potlucks with friends, and it's always been a huge crowd-pleaser. I can't wait to make it for my parents, who are huge fans of Garten's Greek orzo salad.As a Greek American who just got back from Greece, I can confidently say the Barefoot Contessa knows how to honor our cuisine.Maybe my mother was right. Maybe Ina really was Greek in another life.Read the original article on Business Insider

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