Ingredients
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1/2 cup olive oil
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2 garlic cloves
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1 loaf of good-quality bread (try sourdough, or rustic artisan breads)
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2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
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2 large tomatoes, roughly diced
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1/2 red onion, thinly sliced
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1/2 English cucumber, roughly diced
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1/2 cup fresh basil, chopped
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salt and pepper, to taste
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6 -8 ounces fresh mozzarella cheese, roughly diced
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1 tablespoon minced shallot
Instructions
- Tear bread loaf into large bite-size chunks. Preheat oven to 400°F.
- Finely mince garlic, and saute briefly, about 1 -2 minutes in olive oil over medium heat. Set aside until cool.
- Toss bread chunks with 2 tablespoons cooled garlic olive oil, place on a baking sheet and bake in oven until lightly browned and toasted, about 8 minutes, turning at least once.
- Combine remaining olive oil with vinegar, shallot, salt and pepper, mix well.
- In a large bowl, toss toasted bread, tomatoes, onion, cucumber and cheese with oil/vinegar mixture and basil.
- Set aside for flavors to meld for half an hour before serving.