Winter Panzanella Salad
103 days ago
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Panzanella salad, usually made with onions and tomatoes, is traditionally a spring or summer dish, but with a few tweaks, it is easily adapted to the colder months. This Winter Panzanella Salad is proof of how delicious it can be when incorporating ingredients like butternut squash, fennel and celery.
Preparing the Panzanella Ingredients
Before peeling and cutting the butternut squash, use the tip of a sharp knife to poke some holes into the skin of the squash and then microwave it for a few minutes. It will soften just enough to make cutting it easier. Peel it with the Vegetable Peeler and then cut it into cubes using a large prep knife like the 7” Santoku or a 7-5/8" Petite Chef knife.
To cut the fennel, trim off the fennel stalks with a sharp knife. Cut the bulb in half and peel off any outer layers that are wilted and remove the core. Lay the bulb with the flat side down on the cutting board and thinly slice.
For tips on how to cut fennel, take a look at our easy step-by-step tutorial.
Infusing Flavor
Roasting the butternut squash brings out its sweet, buttery flavor, while sautéing the fennel and celery in the drippings from the salami infuses a savory element to the dish.
If you can’t find spicy salami which contains red or black peppercorns and is a little hot, you can use Genoa salami. It’s tasty but without the extra kick of the spicier version.
You can use any kind of crusty bread in the salad, however, I found a loaf of olive bread in my local grocery store that added a bit of saltiness that I really liked. The whole loaf cut into cubes using the 7-3/4" Petite Slicer will yield approximately the 4-1/2 cups you need.
I thought this salad was really delicious. I ate a small dish and then found myself going back for another spoonful or two or three. I enjoyed the variety of tastes. It has a little of everything – meat, vegetables, bread and cheese. It’s a nice change from a greens-based salad.
Ingredients
- 4 1/2 cups butternut squash, peeled and cubed (about 1-1/2 pounds)
- 4 tablespoons olive oil, divided
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- 4 1/2 cups crusty bread, cubed
- 3 ounces spicy salami, cut into half-inch cubes
- 1 small bulb fennel, halved, cored and thinly sliced
- 1 stalk celery, thinly sliced
- 1 cup chicken broth
- 3 tablespoons red wine vinegar
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
- Freshly ground pepper, to taste
- 1 12-ounce jar roasted red peppers, drained and chopped
- 2 tablespoons rough-chopped fresh oregano
- Shredded asiago cheese, for topping
- 1/2 cup fennel fronds, for topping
Directions
- Preheat oven to 425 F.
- Toss the squash with 1 tablespoon olive oil on a rimmed baking sheet. Season with salt and pepper. Bake about 20 minutes, tossing halfway through, until golden brown and tender. Transfer to a plate and cool.
- Add the bread to the baking sheet and bake until lightly toasted, 8 to 10 minutes. Transfer to a large bowl.
- In a large skillet over medium heat, warm the remaining 3 tablespoons olive oil. Add the salami and cook until lightly browned, about 5 minutes. Using a Slotted Spoon, remove to a paper towel lined plate, reserving the drippings in the skillet. Add the sliced fennel and celery to the pan and cook, stirring until softened and browned, about 10 minutes.
- Add the chicken broth, vinegar, kosher salt and a few grinds of pepper. Cook, stirring until the liquid is slightly reduced, about 3 minutes. Remove the skillet from the heat and stir in the peppers and oregano.
- Pour the fennel mixture over the bread cubes and let sit 2 minutes.
- Add the squash and salami and toss.
- Top each serving with some shredded asiago cheese and fennel fronds.
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