Asparagus Panzanella

A panzanella done well is a dish that transforms into more than the sum of its parts. On the surface it’s just vegetables, dressing and croutons, but as all the flavours mingle together you end up with a most delightful dish. The traditional version of course is with tomatoes. Here we’re adding asparagus and broad beans to tomatoes for a summery twist. Mix it up according to what you have at home. This is a perfect salad for grilled halloumi, chicken or fish. Make this vegan by replacing honey with maple syrup.

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Ingredients

sourdough 4 (torn)
red onion 1 (sliced)
asparagus 400 g (halved)
tinned broad beans 300 g
cherry tomatoes 400 g (halved)
olive oil 6 tbsp
red wine vinegar 4 tbsp
Dijon mustard 2 tsp
honey 2 tsp
sugar pinch

Method

Prep the ingredients

Tear the sourdough into crouton sized pieces.
Peel and thinly slice the red onion. Trim and halve the asparagus. Pod the broad beans. Halve the cherry tomatoes.

Make the croutons

Toss the torn bread in a little oil, salt, and pepper.
Air fry at 180°C for 6 – 8 minutes, shaking halfway, until golden and crisp. Set aside to cool.

Make pickled red onions

Add the red onion to a small bowl, sprinkle with ½ of the red wine vinegar and add a pinch of sugar then scrunch up with your fingers. Set aside until assembling.

Blanch the veg

Bring a pot of salted water to a boil.
Add the asparagus and blanch for 2 – 3 minutes. Drain and run under cold water to stop the cooking. Drain and peel the broad beans if needed.

Make the dressing

In a small bowl, combine together the olive oil, the remaining red wine vinegar, Dijon mustard and honey. Season to taste with salt.

Assemble the salad

In a large bowl, toss together the asparagus, broad beans, tomatoes, pickled red onion, and toasted croutons. Drizzle over the dressing and toss again to coat everything evenly.
Let the salad sit for 10 minutes so the croutons soak up the dressing a little.

Plate Up

Serve the Asparagus Panzanella at room temperature and enjoy! Perfect with grilled halloumi, chicken or fish.

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