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Fried Caper Panzanella

Print Recipe
Course Appetizer, Salad, Side Dish
Prep Time 1 hour 10 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Servings 4
Calories 281

Ingredients

  • 3 tablespoons olive oil
  • ½ cup capers drained and patted dry
  • 7 oz sourdough focaccia bread thinly sliced into 2-inch pieces, ½” thick
  • 3 heaping tablespoons vegan butter
  • 1 large shallot sliced
  • 3 cloves garlic chopped
  • 1 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes less if you don’t like spicy!
  • 1 tablespoon fresh oregano leaves
  • 1 tablespoon fresh thyme leaves
  • 1 tablespoon red wine vinegar or sherry vinegar
  • Freshly cracked black pepper + salt to taste
  • 2 pounds heirloom tomatoes sliced into 2-inch pieces, ½” thick

Instructions

  • In a large skillet, add 3 tablespoons of olive oil and bring to medium-high heat. Once hot, throw in the capers and cook for 6-8 minutes, stirring every so often, until crispy. Taste one to make sure they are crispy and then remove from the skillet. Set them aside to garnish at the very end.
  • Next, place sliced bread in the same skillet with leftover oil and pan-fry until golden brown on both sides, about 3 minutes on each side. Drizzle in a little bit more oil, if needed. You want the slices to get toasty brown but still remain somewhat chewy on the inside. Once done, add the bread to a beautiful large salad bowl and set aside.
  • For the dressing, in a separate small pan, add the butter and bring to medium-high heat. Throw in the shallots, garlic, crushed red pepper flakes, oregano leaves, thyme leaves, and a sprinkling of salt and pepper. Bring to a sizzle and cook for a few minutes until the shallots and garlic are tender and the oregano leaves are crisped and curled. Remove from heat and set aside.
  • Time to assemble! Add the sliced tomatoes to the large salad bowl with bread and gently toss. Add a few splashes of red wine vinegar (about 1 tablespoon). Using a spoon, spread the dressing over the bread and tomatoes and then pour every last drop out. Gently toss again. Right before serving, sprinkle the fried capers over the top and a bit of flaky salt, to taste. Eat immediately.

Nutrition

Calories: 281kcal | Carbohydrates: 37g | Protein: 8g | Fat: 12g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 8g | Trans Fat: 0.003g | Sodium: 865mg | Potassium: 598mg | Fiber: 5g | Sugar: 7g | Vitamin A: 2180IU | Vitamin C: 36mg | Calcium: 47mg | Iron: 3mg