Mid-Summer Italian Bread Salad: A Refreshing Dish for Hot Summer Days

Enjoy the flavors of Italy with this refreshing mid-summer Italian bread salad. Made with fresh ingredients like ripe tomatoes, cucumbers, basil, and crusty bread, this salad is perfect for hot summer days when you want something light and flavorful. The combination of the juicy tomatoes and the crispy bread soaked in the tangy dressing is simply irresistible. It's a great way to use up stale bread and showcase the simplicity and deliciousness of Italian cuisine. Serve it as a side dish or add some grilled chicken or shrimp for a complete meal.

Ingredients

• 4 cups of crusty bread, diced
• 4 ripe tomatoes, diced
• 1 cucumber, peeled and diced
• 1 red onion, thinly sliced
• 1/2 cup of fresh basil leaves, torn into pieces
• 1/4 cup of extra virgin olive oil
• 2 tablespoons of red wine vinegar
• 1 clove of garlic, minced
• Salt and pepper to taste

Directions

1. In a large bowl, combine the diced bread, tomatoes, cucumber, red onion, and basil.
2. In a small bowl, whisk together the olive oil, red wine vinegar, minced garlic, salt, and pepper.
3. Pour the dressing over the bread mixture and toss gently to coat all the ingredients.
4. Let the salad sit for about 10 minutes to allow the bread to soak up the dressing and the flavors to meld together.
5. Toss the salad again before serving and adjust the seasonings if needed.
6. Serve the mid-summer Italian bread salad chilled or at room temperature.
7. Enjoy!

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