Charred Corn Panzanella Food

CORNBREAD PANZANELLA

Steps:

• Cook the bacon in a large cast-iron skillet over medium-high heat until browned and crisp, 5 to 8 minutes. Remove the bacon to a paper towel-lined plate to cool, reserving the drippings in the skillet, then chop.
• Add half of the Cornbread cubes to the hot bacon drippings in the skillet and brown on all sides, 5 to 8 minutes. Remove from the skillet and let cool. Add vegetable oil to the skillet if it becomes dry, then brown the remaining cornbread cubes. Let cool.
• Whisk together the olive oil, vinegar, mustard and garlic in a large bowl. Season with salt and pepper. Add the tomatoes, basil, capers, cucumber and onion. Toss well to coat. Cover and refrigerate until ready to serve, or serve right away.
• Just before serving, add the cornbread cubes and bacon and toss. Garnish with additional basil, if desired.
• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Lightly grease a 9-inch baking pan with vegetable shortening or cooking spray.
• Combine the flour, cornmeal, sugar, baking powder and salt in a medium bowl. Whisk together the buttermilk, butter, vegetable oil and egg in a separate bowl. Add the buttermilk mixture to the flour mixture, stirring just until the dry ingredients are moistened. (The batter will be lumpy and thick.)
• Bake the cornbread until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, 22 to 25 minutes. Let cool on a wire rack.

CHARRED-PEACH PANZANELLA WITH PICKLED PEPPER VINAIGRETTE

Steps:

• Whisk garlic, pickle brine, mustard, and salt in a large bowl to combine. Add tomatoes and pickled peppers and gently toss to combine. Let sit, tossing occasionally, while you cook the bacon, bread, and peaches.
• Arrange bacon in a cold large cast-iron skillet and set over medium heat. Cook, stirring occasionally, until mostly crisp (there can still be a few soft, chewy spots if you're into that sort of thing), about 10 minutes. Transfer bacon to paper towels to drain. Pour bacon fat into a small bowl; set aside. Wipe out skillet.
• Heat 2 Tbsp. reserved bacon fat in same skillet. Working in batches and adding more bacon fat as needed, toast bread until golden (a few char marks are fine), about 2 minutes per side. Transfer to paper towels to drain. Wipe out skillet.
• Heat another 1 Tbsp. bacon fat (if you've run out, use vegetable or olive oil) in same skillet and cook peach halves, cut side down, until lightly charred, about 3 minutes. Transfer to a cutting board; let sit until cool enough to handle. Slice each half in half again or into thirds and add to bowl with tomatoes. Tear toasted bread into 1"-1½" pieces and add to bowl. Add bacon and toss gently to combine and saturate bread with juices collected in bowl.
• Transfer panzanella to a platter or individual bowls to serve.

CHARRED NECTARINE & PROSCIUTTO PANZANELLA

Steps:

• Heat oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6. Brush the bread with 1 tbsp of the olive oil and scatter over some sea salt and thyme leaves. Roast for 15 mins, turning once, until crispy and golden. Break up into a bowl and toss with the capers.
• Meanwhile, whisk together the lemon juice, 2 tbsp olive oil, a pinch of salt and the mustard to make a dressing, then pour half over the bread.
• Heat a grill pan to a high heat and sprinkle in some sea salt. Drizzle the nectarines with the remaining 1 tbsp oil and grill, flesh-side down, until charred. Add to the bowl with the bread, along with the basil, sorrel, chervil and tarragon.
• Season and toss everything together, then pile onto a serving platter. Top with the ricotta, prosciutto and hazelnuts, and serve with the remaining dressing on the side, if you like.