Italian Freselle Salad

Italian Freselle Salad

Need a quick easy recipe that will make your guests very happy? This easy summer salad is going to be something you will receive kudos for. I grew up eating Italian Freselle salad and I have continued making it for years in my own home. It’s also very easy to bring along to a summer BBQ, or a lake house as you just add the dressing before serving. You can also set this out as an appetizer as it goes extremely well with wine.

What is a Freselle?

A freselle is made from bread and looks like a large donut. It’s very crisp and hard because it’s meant to absorb Italian dressing. Once the dressing is poured on the salad, the bread softens. You can find freselle in both white and whole wheat. They are sold in Italian grocery stores near the bread section. They come stacked in a bag.

Now, originally when I was young, we would pour a vinaigrette dressing on the bread and then top with fresh home-grown tomatoes, cheese, and basil. This is a meal in itself and could easily be shared by two people.

As my own family grew, I changed up the recipe and added more ingredients. Remember, I have four children, so I wanted an easier version. You can make your salad with as many or as few ingredients as you’d like. Below you can find the steps I use to make the Freselle Salad.

Ingredients

(all of the ingredients can be found at an Italian grocery store)

• 3 Freselles (other brands call them Frezelle)
• 1 small carton of Fresh Cherry Tomatoes
• 1 small package of Fresh Mozzarella Balls
• Handful of fresh Basil Chopped
• One Small Red Onion Sliced thin (optional)
• 1/4 pound of pitted marinated black or green olives  (or both)
• 1 can of marinated artichokes drained and cut in half
• 1/2 pound chunk of provolone cheese cubed
• one stick of pepperoni sliced
• Salami (optional)
• Marinated eggplant (optional)
• Italian Pepperoncini drained (optional)

Italian Dressing

• 1/2 cup Pure Virgin Olive Oil
• 1/4 cup Red Wine Vinegar
• One small clove of finely chopped garlic
• Dash of oregano
• Sea salt
• Black pepper
• 1 tsp. honey

Wisk all the above ingredients together to make your dressing.

Directions

Break three Freselle into pieces and add to a very large salad bowl. Then add all the other ingredients, toss together mixing well. Then sparingly add the dressing, then toss again well. I start out by adding a little dressing at a time. You can always add more and then save what’s not used for later.

If you are taking it somewhere, I would make sure to put the dressing on just before serving. Also, if you are making this well ahead of time, mix all the ingredients with the exception of the bread, add the bread just before you put the dressing on. Unfortunately, I tried making this hours in advance and put it in the refrigerator. I would not recommended that, as the bread became soft from the refrigeration.

Bon Appetite!