This is one of my favorite foods ever! You can really customize it to whatever you want- use the veggies you like and omit the ones you don't.
1 loaf very crusty Italian bread, cut into 1-inch cubes (if the loaf is very big, use just a partial loaf. You only need about 6-8 cups of cubed bread)
1 Cucumber, peeled (or not) and diced
3-4 Tomatoes, diced
1/2 Red onion, thinly sliced (or I often use green onions sliced up instead of red onion)
Olives, sliced (I use black, but you can use whatever your favorite are)
1 yellow or red bell pepper, thinly sliced or cubed
Shredded Parmesan or diced Mozzarella or crumbled feta cheese (whatever your favorite is)
10-15 Basil leaves, coarsely chopped (or use dried basil)
1-2 garlic cloves, minced
2 Tbsp vinegar (Red wine or Balsamic. I usually use Balsamic)
1/4 cup Olive oil (I often omit this)
Salt and black pepper to taste
Preheat the oven to 350 F. Cut the bread into 1-inch cubes, arrange on a baking sheet (you can lightly drizzle with olive oil if desired). Place the pan in the oven for 15-20 minutes until crisp/lightly toasted. Remove it from the oven and allow it to cool.
In a large bowl, combine all the ingredients BUT the bread pieces. Stir everything, and salt and pepper to taste. Just before serving, add the crusty bread and stir all the ingredients together. (Most recipes have you add the bread along with everything else, then let it sit for 20-30 minutes, but I don't like my bread soggy at all, so I don't do this!)
