Ingredients

  • 8 ounces country style white bread, cut into 1 inch cubes
  • 3 tablespoons garlic flavored olive oil
  • 1/2 teaspoon coarse salt
  • 1 (15 ounce) can garbanzo beans, rinsed and drained
  • 2 cups red or yellow teardrop tomatoes, halved
  • 1/3 cup chopped green bell pepper
  • 1/3 cup chopped red bell pepper
  • 1 small red onion, cut into 3/4 inch slices
  • 10 kalamata olives, pitted and halved
  • 1/3 cup basil pesto
  • 1/4 cup balsamic vinegar
  • 1 tablespoon minced fresh rosemary
  • 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
  • 4 ounces crumbled goat cheese
  • 1 head green or red leaf lettuce
  • 1/4 cup toasted pine nuts

Method

  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
  • Toss the bread cubes with the olive oil to evenly coat. Sprinkle with salt, and toss again. Spread the cubed bread evenly over a baking sheet, and bake in the preheated oven until golden brown, about 12 minutes. Remove from oven and allow to cool completely.
  • Toss together the garbanzo beans, tomatoes, peppers, onion, and kalamata olives in a large bowl. In a separate bowl, whisk together the pesto, balsamic vinegar, rosemary, and pepper. Toss the tomatoes with the pesto mixture, and let stand at room temperature for 30 minutes to 1 hour.
  • To serve, toss the toasted bread cubes and goat cheese with the tomato mixture. Line a serving platter with a few lettuce leaves. Shred the remaining lettuce, and mound in the center of the platter. Spoon the bread mixture over the lettuce, and sprinkle with toasted pine nuts.