Let's Talk BBQ

Recipes => Recipes => Veggies, Casseroles, & Other Side Dishes => Topic started by: Smokin Don on July 13, 2016, 11:28:16 AM

Title: Panzanella and Lefftover Brats
Post by: Smokin Don on July 13, 2016, 11:28:16 AM
July 12 2016

In the summer we eat a lot more sandwiches and only cooking for two I end up wasting a lot of buns. I do not like bread after freezing so I end up throwing some away unless I can use them in a recipe. I wish buns came in smaller packages than eight!

The other night we had brats so I had six hotdog buns and two brats leftover. I didn’t feel like brat sandwiches again but wanted the brats plain with a side. I had two big Tennessee tomatoes so thought why not use the buns and make panzanella. I found a recipe by Ina Garten at Food Network that sounded good with Champaign vinaigrette. I had some Champaign dressing so all I had to do was cut up the buns and toast them.

I had a red and yellow pepper, two large tomatoes, a half a English cucumber, a small Vidalia onion, 3 Tbs. capers, 20 fresh basil leaves, 4 of the buns cut up and toasted in 3 Tbs. olive oil and a cup of the dressing. I mixed it all up and let set a half hour before serving.

I mixed up a dip for the brats I thought was pretty good. I used about 2 Tbs. each of mayo and sour cream, a Tbs. Maille Dijon mustard a good teaspoon of Cajun seasoning and a few drops of hot sauce.

I heated up the brats in the microwave and served a meal that was easy for a hot summer evening and pretty tasty.

If I was buying bread for panzanella a good crusty coarse bread would be best. Any good Italian vinaigrette would be good and you can use dried basil if you don’t have fresh.

For the dip
(http://i1039.photobucket.com/albums/a474/deains/Indoor%20cooking/_7127552_zpstd6pbypq.jpg)

(http://i1039.photobucket.com/albums/a474/deains/Indoor%20cooking/_7127554_zpsoympz9c3.jpg)

For the salad
(http://i1039.photobucket.com/albums/a474/deains/Indoor%20cooking/_7127555_zps8quugfq5.jpg)

(http://i1039.photobucket.com/albums/a474/deains/Indoor%20cooking/_7127556_zpssi8ohp88.jpg)

(http://i1039.photobucket.com/albums/a474/deains/Indoor%20cooking/_7127557_zpsmejlslqi.jpg)

(http://i1039.photobucket.com/albums/a474/deains/Indoor%20cooking/_7127559_zpssoxpmu8u.jpg)

(http://i1039.photobucket.com/albums/a474/deains/Indoor%20cooking/_7127560_zpsjeliuuy1.jpg)Smokin

(http://i1039.photobucket.com/albums/a474/deains/Indoor%20cooking/_7127563_zps8whey5tf.jpg)

Smokin Don
Title: Re: Panzanella and Lefftover Brats
Post by: akruckus on July 13, 2016, 12:22:02 PM
That bread and veg salad looks amazing.  I might have to do this with my left over rolls!
Title: Re: Panzanella and Lefftover Brats
Post by: akruckus on July 13, 2016, 12:26:20 PM
Quick follow up on freezing bread.  I do it but only with good bakery rolls.  Freeze them the day you get them and when you thaw them on the counter or in the oven they come out fresh.  We do it at the country club I work at, with all the bread, sliced, burger and dog buns, dinner rolls, hoagie (sub/hero), and kaisers.

they key is freezing them right away and not letting them get stale before fridge/freezing.

Sorry for hijacking the thread Don, but I wanted to throw that out there.
Title: Re: Panzanella and Lefftover Brats
Post by: Smokin Don on July 13, 2016, 01:18:08 PM
Quick follow up on freezing bread.  I do it but only with good bakery rolls.  Freeze them the day you get them and when you thaw them on the counter or in the oven they come out fresh.  We do it at the country club I work at, with all the bread, sliced, burger and dog buns, dinner rolls, hoagie (sub/hero), and kaisers.

they key is freezing them right away and not letting them get stale before fridge/freezing.

Sorry for hijacking the thread Don, but I wanted to throw that out there.
That's fine always great to learn new tricks AK! Don
Title: Re: Panzanella and Lefftover Brats
Post by: hikerman on July 13, 2016, 01:19:50 PM
Don I grew up eating panzanella often during fresh tomato season. I love it....it's imbedded in me as part of the season. And yours looks very tasty! ;)
Title: Re: Panzanella and Lefftover Brats
Post by: muebe on July 13, 2016, 03:26:44 PM
Oh that looks so good!
Title: Re: Panzanella and Lefftover Brats
Post by: teesquare on July 13, 2016, 08:02:40 PM
Mangia! Mangia! ;D  Looks like very Northern Italian...'cause the Bratwurst jumped the border from Germany in order to come for dinner! Love the flavors and textures in this one Don Lots of flavors... it is just a great summertime treat.

Now..where is the gelato? :D
Title: Panzanella and Lefftover Brats
Post by: Pappymn on July 13, 2016, 10:09:07 PM
That looks awesome