Broccoli and Bread Salad with Pickled Shallots

So now that my mind (and palate) are back from a restful break, I'm missing the kitchen and craving fresh foods with lots of flavor.  In addition, I firmly believe that nothing cures that sense of December holiday excessiveness like broccoli.  Plain broccoli doesn't go over terribly well in this house, but F and I both love broccoli when it gets a little extra love.  This dish reminds me of the things I love about a good panzanella (bread salad) in the summer.   There is nothing that says "summer" to me like toasty pieces of bread tossed in juicy tomatoes.  This recipe captures that same magical mixture with crisp bread in flavorful dressing, but substitutes broccoli for the tomatoes and adds in a surprising, yet undeniably brilliant, combination of other elements.  The raisins pop with sweetness, but it's the acidity of the vinegar-marinade that really shines.

This would be great as a side dish, but has plenty going on to for a respectable vegetarian dinner.

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Broccoli and Bread Salad with Pickled Shallots

Prep Time25 mins

Cook Time20 mins

Total Time45 mins

Course: Side Dish, Vegetable

Servings: 4

Author: Jess Smith via Inquiring Chef

Ingredients

• 2 large shallots, thinly sliced
• ¼ cup golden raisins
• ½ cup dry sherry
• ¼ cup sherry vinegar
• ¼ cup honey
• 1 teaspoon chopped thyme
• Kosher salt
• Grated zest and juice of 1 Meyer lemon
• ½ cup extra-virgin olive oil
• Freshly ground pepper
• 4 garlic cloves, minced
• 2 teaspoons crushed red pepper
• 2 teaspoons chopped rosemary
• 1 pound broccoli, cut into long spears, stems peeled
• ½ pound ciabatta, cut into 1-inch cubes
• 2 tablespoons toasted pine nuts

Instructions

• Put the shallots and the raisins in 2 separate, small, heatproof bowls. In a small saucepan, combine the sherry, vinegar and agave syrup and bring to a boil. Pour 2 tablespoons of the hot mixture over the raisins; pour the rest over the shallots and add the thyme and 1 teaspoon of salt. Cover both bowls.
• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. In a small bowl, combine the lemon zest and juice with the olive oil and season with salt and pepper. Set aside 3 tablespoons of the dressing. Add the garlic, crushed red pepper and rosemary to the remaining dressing in the bowl.
• On a rimmed baking sheet, drizzle the broccoli with half of the dressing from the bowl and toss well. Season with salt and pepper. Roast the broccoli until the ends get crisp and golden brown, turning it with a spatula every 10 minutes or so, for 20-25 minutes.
• Toss the remaining dressing from the bowl with the ciabatta cubes. In a skillet over medium heat, toast the ciabatta cubes until golden and crisp on all sides, about 5 minutes. Transfer to a platter and top with the roasted broccoli. Drain the raisins and shallots and scatter them over the broccoli. Garnish with the toasted pine nuts, drizzle with the reserved 3 tablespoons of dressing and serve.

Notes

I followed the original recipe exactly, with the exception of one thing. I do not have a grill, and so I roasted the broccoli and toasted the ciabatta in a skillet on the stove. It transformed what is surely an excellent summer grilling recipe into a comforting, yet punchy, winter dish. I was so thrilled with the result that I would make it this way again, even if I had a grill to use. If you are in a grilling sort of mood and have one available, click the link above for the original, grill-friendly, recipe.
Adapted from Food and Wine, June 2011.