Prep Your Space

This salad is known for its crusty bread and juicy tomatoes, so a proper set of knives to handle these textures is a must. My Our Place Fully Prepped Bundle offers exactly what I need: a 9-inch Serrated Slicing Knife for anything soft and squishy or hard and crusty, an 8-inch Everyday Chef’s Knife for sturdy chopping of most veggies and herbs, and a 4-inch Precise Paring Knife for chopping the finer things. The bundle also comes with a 17-inch by 12-inch Walnut Cutting Board with a deep trench that can hold over ⅔ cup of juice. This set is literally all I use – and these knives are as beautiful as they are practical thanks to grips available in Our Place’s signature soothing colors.

Collect Your Ingredients

This is a salad that lets you get creative. My favorite version includes the season's best heirloom tomatoes, a cucumber and half an onion, in addition to basil, salt, and a good olive oil. I pick up all of these ingredients from my local farmers’ market – and if you see any other veggies that catch your eye, feel free to toss them in, too! The dressing calls for a shallot, garlic, dijon mustard, white wine vinegar, and freshly ground pepper. I also grab a loaf of sourdough from the local bakery, and I’m all set. 

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Get Slicing

Once everything is rinsed and prepped, it’s my knives’ time to shine. I use all three: the Serrated Knife on the bread and tomatoes, the Chef’s Knife on just about everything else (onion, cucumber, and basil), and the Paring Knife to mince my garlic. I find this prep to be super soothing, even when cutting slippery tomatoes and a somewhat-tough bread thanks to Our Place’s proprietary grooved handles that create the perfect pinch grip.

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Serve Up Your Spread

Once everything is chopped into bits, toss your bread in olive oil and throw it in the oven for about 15 minutes. Coat your tomatoes in salt in a colander over a bowl and let them sit for 15 minutes. Then, whisk your dressing ingredients into the tomato juice that's dripped into that bowl. From there, combine your bread, veggies, and dressing in a large serving dish. Season with salt and pepper, let the bread mop up the delicious dressing for about 20 minutes, then serve!

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