By Cuisine

Summer Panzanella Salad with Smoked Sausage Recipe

Name: Summer Panzanella Salad with Smoked Sausage Recipe
Yield: 10
Ingredients: 6 Cups Crusty Bread, Cut into 1-inch cubes; 2 Tbsp. Extra Virgin Olive Oil; 1 tsp. Salt, Kosher; 1.5 lbs. Tomatoes, Cut into small wedges or bite-sized pieces; 1 ea Seedless Cucumber, Unpeeled, Ends Removed and Sliced 1/2 inch; 1 ea. Bell Pepper, Yellow, Seeded and Cut into 1/2-inch squares; 1/2 ea. Red Onion, Medium, Thinly Sliced; 6 oz. Mozzarella Cheese, Shredded; 1/2 Cup Basil, Rough Chopped or Torn; 7 oz. Red Win Vinaigrette; 8 oz. Hillshire Farm® Smoked Sausage; 1/2 oz. Pecorino-Romano Cheese, Shaved; 4 oz. Extra Virgin Olive Oil; 2 oz. Red Wine Vinegar; 1 Tbsp. Lemon Juice, Fresh; 1 tsp. Dijon Mustard; 1/2 tsp. Granulated Garlic; 1/2 tsp. Salt; 1/8 tsp. Black Pepper, Fresh Ground

10 Servings

19 Ingredients

Panzanella salad with tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers, onions, mozzarella, basil, vinaigrette, and smoked sausage in a professional kitchen setting

Ingredients

6 Cups Crusty Bread, Cut into 1-inch cubes
2 Tbsp. Extra Virgin Olive Oil
1 tsp. Salt, Kosher
1.5 lbs. Tomatoes, Cut into small wedges or bite-sized pieces
1 ea Seedless Cucumber, Unpeeled, Ends Removed and Sliced 1/2 inch
1 ea. Bell Pepper, Yellow, Seeded and Cut into 1/2-inch squares
1/2 ea. Red Onion, Medium, Thinly Sliced
6 oz. Mozzarella Cheese, Shredded
1/2 Cup Basil, Rough Chopped or Torn
7 oz. Red Win Vinaigrette
8 oz. Hillshire Farm® Smoked Sausage
1/2 oz. Pecorino-Romano Cheese, Shaved

A fresh panzanella salad is built with tomatoes, cucumbers, bell peppers, red onions, mozzarella cheese, basil and mixed with a red wine vinaigrette all spread over baked, toasted, and seasoned bread cubes and topped with the bold flavors of Hillshire Farm® Smoked Sausage .

Directions

Preheat oven to 350°F / 177°C.
Make the red wine vinaigrette (Sub-Recipe)
Toast the bread cubes. Toss the bread cubes with the extra virgin olive oil and salt in a bowl. Spread the seasoned bread cubes in a single layer on a baking sheet and toast in the oven 10-12 minutes or until golden brown.
Remove the bread cubes from the oven and put them in a bowl large enough to toss all the panzanella salad ingredients together.
Make the panzanella salad: Add the tomatoes, cucumbers, bell peppers, red onions, mozzarella cheese and basil to the bowl with the bread cubes.
Shake the red wine vinaigrette, pour it over the panzanella ingredients in the bowl and toss all the ingredients together thoroughly.
Cover the bowl of panzanella salad with plastic wrap and let it sit at least 30 minutes before serving.
Grill or pan fry 2 4-oz. portions of Hillshire Farm® Smoked Sausage .
Re-toss the panzanella salad and divide it into 2 bowls.
Top with the smoked sausage and shaved Parmesan-Romano cheese.