Panzanella [Bread salad]

Ingredients

12 slices stale bread
2 teaspoons white wine vinegar
12 anchovy fillets, chopped
6 ripe tomatoes, cut into wedges
3 red onions, finely sliced
fresh basil leaves, roughly torn
extra virgin olive oil
salt and pepper

Method

Soften the bread by soaking it in cold water and vinegar. Squeeze it dry, tear it roughly into pieces and place it in a large salad bowl. Add the anchovies, tomato wedges, onion slices and basil, drizzle with olive oil, season with alt and pepper (sliced hard boiled eggs, tuna fish and cucumber are also sometimes added to the mix). Keep refrigerated (or stored in a cool place) until just before serving.