Tuscan Bread Salad

This healthy Tuscan bread salad, also known as Panzanella salad, is packed with classic Mediterranean ingredients like tomatoes, cucumber, and basil. With nutritious vegetables and good-for-you monounsaturated fats in extra-virgin olive oil, this salad is as tasty as it is nourishing.

Ingredients:

• 4 cups of cubed Tuscan bread (can substitute with whole grain, wheat, or sprouted whole grain bread)
• 1 cucumber, chopped
• 3 cups of tomatoes, sliced
• 3 cups of celery, chopped
• ¾ cup red onion, chopped
• 1 bunch of fresh basil, chopped
• Juice of 1 lemon
• ¼ cup of red wine vinegar
• ½ cup of extra-virgin olive oil
• Salt and pepper to taste

Directions:

1. Cut the bread into cubes and bake on an ungreased baking sheet at 350 degrees for 15 minutes or until dried and toasted. Set aside and cool to room temperature.
2. In a large bowl, combine cucumber, tomatoes, onion, celery, basil, and toasted bread.
3. Drizzle ½ cup of extra-virgin olive oil and ¼ cup of red wine vinegar.
4. Salt and pepper to taste. Toss to coat. Serve immediately and enjoy!

Serves 6.