In the most perfect of all worlds, things look as good as they taste. That’s true with this dish. Pink salmon, bright tomatoes (grab multicolored ones if that’s an option), flecks of purpley onion, pale chunks of toasty bread and a drizzle of bright green basil oil — a virtual rainbow.
And matching the array of colors is a variety of textures: soft and tender (salmon), juicy and firm (tomatoes), crispy-chewy (chunks of toasted bread). There is nothing ho-hum about this salad.
While we’re talking about the most perfect of worlds, if you can serve this dish slightly warm, with the salmon recently emerged from the oven, you will be in for another level of sensory happiness.
This is the kind of one-bowl lunch or dinner that is pure summertime happiness. If you can figure out a way to enjoy it outside, all the better.
Make the basil oil up to a couple of days ahead and store it in a container in the fridge. You’ll have some extra from this recipe: Drizzle it over sliced tomatoes and fresh mozzarella later in the week. And if the basil oil is one step too many, skip it — add an extra drizzle of plain olive oil at the end, and some slivered fresh basil leaves. Still beautiful, still delicious.
SALMON PANZANELLA
Servings: 4
Start to finish: 40 minutes
8 ounces ciabatta bread
5 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil, divided
Kosher salt to taste
2 tablespoons white wine vinegar
1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
Freshly ground black pepper to taste
1 pound skinless salmon filets (any number of pieces to equal 1 pound)
1 pint cherry or grape tomatoes, halved (mixed colors look especially pretty)
1/4 cup minced red onion
2 tablespoons basil oil (see Note)
Note: To make basil oil, place 1/2 cup fresh basil, 2 tablespoons flat-leaf parsley leaves, 1/4 teaspoon minced garlic, 1/2 teaspoon lemon juice, and salt and pepper to taste in a food processor, and pulse several times to roughly chop. With the motor running, add 1/4 cup olive oil through the top of the processor. When the oil is added, scrape down the sides of the food processor and process again.
Nutrition information per serving: 411 calories; 179 calories from fat; 20 g fat (3 g saturated; 0 g trans fats); 62 mg cholesterol; 633 mg sodium; 29 g carbohydrate; 2 g fiber; 2 g sugar; 27 g protein.
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