Panzanella
<p>Large and colourful heirloom tomatoes are the key to this dish – preferably organic ones, for that beautiful sweet flavour.</p>
<p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Serves:</span></strong> 4</p>
<p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Ingredients:</span></strong></p>
<ul>
<li>4 large heirloom tomatoes, about 1 kg in total, cut into 1 cm thick slices</li>
<li>100 g assorted baby tomatoes, cut in half</li>
<li>4 mini capsicums, about 180 g in total, cut lengthways into quarters</li>
<li>8 baby cucumbers, sliced in half lengthways</li>
<li>½ red onion, thinly sliced</li>
<li>3 slices multigrain sourdough, about 200 g, cut into 2 cm chunks and toasted</li>
<li>40 g pitted kalamata olives, sliced in half</li>
<li>7 caper berries, sliced in half lengthways</li>
<li>2 tablespoons white balsamic vinegar</li>
<li>Olive oil, for drizzling</li>
</ul>
<p><em>For the basil emulsion</em></p>
<ul>
<li>1 garlic clove, crushed</li>
<li>Large handful of basil leaves, torn</li>
<li>80 ml olive oil</li>
</ul>
<p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Method:</span></strong></p>
<ol start="1">
<li>Arrange all the salad vegetables, sourdough chunks, olives and caper berries on a platter.</li>
<li>Place the basil emulsion ingredients in a blender and pulse until you have a smooth sauce. Drizzle the basil emulsion over the salad.</li>
<li>Sprinkle with the vinegar and a little more olive oil and season to taste.</li>
<li>Serve immediately.</li>
</ol>
<p><img width="143" height="200" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7264938/the-vegetable-cover_143x200.jpg" alt="The Vegetable Cover" style="float: right;"/></p>
<p><em>This is an extract from </em>The Vegetable: Recipes that celebrate nature<em> by Vicki Valsamis and Caroline Griffiths, published by Smith Street Books, RRP AU$49.99 or NZ$59.99. Image credit: Chris Middleton.</em></p>
<p><a href="http://www.booktopia.com.au/the-way-mum-made-it-alexandra-o-brien/prod9780733335037.html?utm_source=harper&utm_medium=publisher_website&utm_campaign=alexandra_o-brien_EDM_strap" target="_blank"><img src="http://media.oversixty.com.au/images/banners/Cookbook_Website_GIF_468x602.gif" alt="Over60 Cookbook"/></a></p>
