Winter Apple Squash Panzanella Food

WINTER PANZANELLA

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
• Melt the butter in a large skillet over moderate heat and cook until it foams. Add the garlic and thyme, and immediately add the bread cubes. Toss to coat well. Add most of the grated cheese and stir. Transfer bread to a baking sheet and sprinkle with the remaining cheese and salt and pepper and gently toss again while still warm to melt the cheese. Bake stirring once or twice, until the croutons are crisp and lightly colored on the outside but still soft within, about 10 to 15 minutes. Set aside and let cool.
• Soak the sliced onion in the sherry vinegar and a pinch of salt for about 15 minutes. Set aside.
• Toss the squash with 1 1/2 tablespoons of the olive oil, sage, salt, and pepper. Arrange in a single layer on a baking sheet and bake until the squash is tender and lightly caramelized, about 15 to minutes. Let cool.
• Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the quartered Brussels sprouts and cook until tender but retain a touch of crispness, about 1 1/2 minutes, and drain.
• Into the reserved red onions and vinegar, whisk in remaining 1/2 cup olive oil. Season with pepper.
• In a large bowl combine the roasted squash, croutons, and Brussels sprouts. Add the vinaigrette and toss. Add the parsley leaves and toss again. Taste and adjust the seasoning. Garnish with grated Parmesan and serve immediately.
• Chef note: "Soaking the onion briefly in sherry vinegar--sometimes called blooming the onion--mellows the raw onion taste."

WINTER PANZANELLA WITH SQUASH AND SALAMI

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F. Toss the squash with 1 tablespoon olive oil on a rimmed baking sheet; season with salt and pepper. Bake, tossing halfway through, until golden brown and tender, about 20 minutes. Transfer to a plate and let cool. Add the bread to the baking sheet and bake until lightly toasted, 8 to 10 minutes; transfer to a large bowl.
• Meanwhile, heat the remaining 3 tablespoons olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the salami and cook, stirring, until lightly browned, about 5 minutes. Remove to a paper towel-lined plate with a slotted spoon, reserving the drippings in the skillet.
• Add the sliced fennel and celery to the skillet and cook, stirring, until softened and browned, about 10 minutes. Add the chicken broth, vinegar, 1/2 teaspoon salt and a few grinds of pepper; cook, stirring, until the liquid is slightly reduced, about 3 minutes. Remove from the heat and stir in the roasted peppers and marjoram.
• Pour the fennel mixture over the bread cubes and let sit 2 minutes. Add the squash and salami and toss to coat. Top each serving of panzanella with the asiago and fennel fronds.

WINTER PANZANELLA

Steps:

• Steam the cauliflower until it's just tender (be careful not to overcook it), then set aside.
• Tear the bread into small chunks and heat 3 tbsp of the olive oil in a large frying pan. Fry the bread over a medium heat (in batches if it's easier) until it's golden all over - each batch will take about 4-5 mins to get a good colour. Put all the bread back into the pan and add the chilli, garlic and anchovies to the pan (with another tablespoon of oil if necessary) and sauté for a further 2 mins, making sure the garlic doesn't get too dark. It should be golden, not brown. Tip the bread mixture into a broad shallow serving bowl and add the raisins, capers and parsley.
• Add the rest of the olive oil to the frying pan and, over a high heat, fry the cauliflower until tinged with gold. You want a really good colour. Put the cauliflower in the bowl with the bread mixture, add the radishes, balsamic vinegar and the juice of ½ lemon and toss everything together. Season, but be careful about how much salt you use because of the anchovies. Taste to see if you need more lemon juice, or even more olive oil, and serve warm.

PANZANELLA WITH WINTER SQUASH AND SAGE

Steps:

• Heat oven to 425 degrees. Line a baking sheet with parchment. Toss the squash with 1 tablespoon olive oil and salt to taste. Roast 25 minutes or until soft and caramelized on the edges, turning the slices over halfway through. Remove from heat.
• Heat 2 tablespoons olive oil in a large, heavy skillet over medium heat. Add bread and stir until crisp, 4 to 6 minutes. Remove from heat.
• Make the vinaigrette: In a small bowl, whisk together vinegars, salt to taste, mustard, garlic and 4 tablespoons (1/4 cup) olive oil.
• Combine bread, celery, radishes, half the squash, thyme, parsley and pepper in a large bowl. Add 1/4 cup vinaigrette and toss together.
• Whisk 1 tablespoon olive oil into remaining vinaigrette and toss with lettuce and chives. Place on a platter or in a wide bowl and top with bread mixture. Garnish with remaining squash and the Parmesan shavings. Sprinkle sage over the top, and serve.