Tomato and Garlic Crouton Salad

Sharon123's Note:

Recipe courtesy Brian Boitano 2009--Show: What Would Brian Boitano Make?Episode: Handyman Special. Brian was a skating Olymipic champion who loves to cook and now has his own show. He served this to get into a supper club. What a hoot to watch Brian make his dishes. This one caught my eye!

• Total Time: 25 mins
• Prep Time: 15 mins
• Cook Time: 10 mins

Ingredients:

Servings: 6

• 3 tablespoons olive oil, plus
• 1/4 cup olive oil
• 3 tablespoons butter
• 3 garlic cloves, minced
• 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes
• salt & freshly ground black pepper
• 1/2 loaf ciabatta, cut into small cubes (or any rustic artisan bread)
• 3 tablespoons red wine vinegar
• 4 cups red grape tomatoes, sliced in half (or use yellow and pear or roma)
• 1 cup sliced kalamata olive
• 8 ounces perlini mozzarella cheese (small mozzarella balls)
• 8 basil leaves, chopped

Directions:

1. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
2. In a small skillet over medium-low heat, add 3 tablespoons olive oil, the butter, garlic, red pepper flakes, and salt and pepper, to taste. Cook to infuse the butter and oil with the garlic, about 4 minutes.
3. Add the cubed bread to a large bowl, pour the butter and garlic mixture over the bread and toss to coat. Transfer to a sheet tray and bake until crisp, about 10 minutes. Remove from the oven and let cool.
4. In a small bowl whisk together the remaining olive oil and red wine vinegar and set aside.
5. In a large serving bowl, combine the tomatoes, olives, mozzarella, croutons, basil, and the oil and vinegar mixture. Gently toss to coat all the tomatoes and croutons. Let the salad sit for 10 minutes before serving.

Reviews

[Buzymomof3]

Wonderful! Everyone in my family liked different parts the best DH, the croutons, DS the cheese, DD the whole thing. Very good - just the right amount of flavor and spices. Will be making again. We did leave out the olives - nobody here is a big fan. Thanks for sharing Sharon! Made for Top Favorites of 2009 Tag Game.

[Lvs2Cook]

Oh Sharon ~ this salad is divine! It's so simple to make and the flavors are just wonderful. I made as posted except I left my olives whole. I used regular mozzarella that I cubed. I would recommend using a good olive oil. Thank you for posting a keeper that I'll make often!

[Boomette]

This is very yummy. I loved the bread cubes in the garlic butter/oil. So tasty. I used baby bocconcini, maybe mozzarella would have been better. This is a very yummy salad that I'll do again but with another cheese. Thanks Sharon :) Made for TYM tag game