Warm Sourdough Bread and Roasted Plum Salad Recipe. Before I turned plant-based, I used to cook the delicious Zuni Cafe Roast Chicken and Bread Salad from the acclaimed San Francisco restaurant, Zuni Cafe Cookbook. It was the perfect blend of flavours and textures, and the first salad that made me realise that there's more to them than just leaves. Judy Rodgers had taken all of the elements of a traditional chicken salad and turned it around on its head, deconstructing it, and then reassembling it, producing an exquisite salad.
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Over the years, I have made that salad many times, to much acclaim, but I felt that the salad needed to be made plant based, but without falling back on using things like substitute meat. I'm not even sure they belong in a salad anyway.
So, I started to think about what I love about that salad, and it was definitely the bread, drenched in the chicken juices, but also the tangy, dressing and the fruity currants.
I decided to forego veganising the chicken element entirely, and only moved forward with two original elements: the bread and the fruit (from the original idea of using a currant dressing). Oh, and the simple vinaigrette. I came up with this, my warm sourdough bread and roasted plum salad.
I think what makes the original Zuni Cafe recipe so successful, is the subtle blending of the different flavours. The crisping of the bread, some pieces toastier than others, the flavour from the roast chicken, the thyme and the spring onions, the tartness of the vinegars and the sweet pop of currants.
Alternatives to Plums
But what if plums are not in season? Or you'd rather use something else? Most larger fruits taste delicious grilled, and these are just a few:
- Peaches
- Apples
- Pears
- Mango
- Pineapple
What Bread Can I Use in Bread Salad? Can I use Gluten Free Bread in a Bread Salad?
I do recommend that you use a good rustic bread, like a ciabatta, baguette or a focaccia, something that's not too squishy, but even a farmhouse loaf will be delicious. I don't recommend sliced bread, just because it won't have the flavour or texture.
If you have a favourite sourdough, whether it's a white or brown or seeded loaf, this too will be just delicious.
I'm not sure I would recommend beer bread either as it can be quite crumbly, and whilst you want some smaller bits of bread for that toasty yum, you don't want lots of crumbs!
As for gluten free, if you can find an uncut loaf of sourdough or similar gluten free bread, go ahead and use that!
What's important to remember about this salad is that one ingredient is not the sum total of the recipe, all the ingredients when tasted in one delicious bite make this a perfect salad recipe for any time of the year. So, in the winter, you could add some dried cranberries, and a more hearty bread. For those really warm summer days, a lighter loaf, with sundried tomatoes and basil and some roasted peaches would be just divine. It's all about thinking about what you have in your fridge, or fruit bowl, and if you think it sounds like it would work, then it probably will!
Note: don't forget the simple oil and vinegar dressing. This helps to add an additional flavour to the warm bread, and ties the whole salad together. I like to use a little maple syrup in my dressing, just to mirror the sweetness of the fruit, but you can use honey, agave syrup or simply omit the sugar altogether.
Try my other delicious vegan salad ideas
📋 Recipe
Ingredients
Roasted Plums
- 2 Plums ripe but not overly so, stoned and cut into chunks
- 1 tablespoon Balsamic Vinegar
- 1½ tablespoon Maple Syrup
- Salt and Pepper
- 2 springs fresh Thyme
Rest of Salad
- 1 small loaf Sourdough Bread or other rustic bread, crusts removed, torn into 1" chunks
- 2 tablespoon Extra Virgin Olive Oil
- ¼ cup Walnuts toasted, broken into pieces
- ¼ cup Grapes halved
- ¼ cup Roasted Peppers cut into slithers if whole
- 2 Spring Onions cut into rings, incl green tops
- 1 Mixed Leaves, such as watercress, spinach etc
Dressing
- 2 tablespoon Olive Oil
- 2 tablespoon Cider Vinegar
- ½ teaspoon Maple Syrup
- Salt and Pepper
Instructions
To Roast The Plums
- In a small bowl, mix together the plums, balsamic vinegar, maple syrup, thyme and salt and pepper. Leave to marinate for 5 mins or so
- Preheat oven to 180c.
- Heat a frying pan over high heat and add the plums and marinade, moving them around quickly to stop burning, but allowing them to colour up.
- Tip this mixture onto a lined baking tray and bake for a further 10 mins
To Toast The Sourdough
- Place the torn bits of Sourdough onto a baking tray, drizzle with the olive oil and grind over a little black pepper. Toss so that all the bread is lightly coated.
- Bake for about 10-15 mins or until the bread is toasty and slightly coloured. Turn if needed.
To assemble Salad
- In a large serving bowl, add your toasted sourdough, roasted pears, grape halves, peppers, walnuts and salad leaves and mix to combine.
- Drizzle over the salad dressing and mix well. Taste a little of the bread for seasoning, or if it needs a little more olive oil.
- This salad tastes best at room temperature and if the flavours are able to stand and mingle for about 10 mins.
Roma says
This looks absolutely delicious. Looking forward to making this salad.
Kirby says
This salad looks so good. Like a wonderful twist on a panzanella. I can't wait to try this!
hanaa says
this sounds so good - i can’t wait to try!
Jenny says
This recipe has all of my favorite things in it! Can’t wait to try!
Shannon says
Oooh yum!
Abby says
This is so smart! I never thought to use sourdough in my salad like croutons!!!
Jahma says
So unique!! I love sourdough soo much, hands down favorite bread! Definitely going to give this a try.
Angie says
I love how simple and delicious this recipe is. Thank you so much for suggesting other fruits to use and which season.
Deb says
Love the idea of repurposing sourdough into croutons for a salad, divine!
Elena says
Such a summer dish that I will be eating a lot of soon!
Alice | SkinnySpatula says
Sourdough croutons are definitely salad goals!
Seanna says
Delicious! Such a great recipe! We love it!!
Sue says
This looks amazing. My partner has a plum allergy so I will be trying this with peaches or mango - they all sound delicious!
Amanda says
This was a fabulous salad! I love the depth of flavor the maple added. It was perfect with the plum.
Jeri says
This is a great recipe! Thanks for sharing!
Raquel says
I love plums and have never tried roasting them. I cannot wait to try this recipe!
Karen says
Such a delicious salad! I love using roasted plums and the maple syrup great flavour
Natalie says
Lovely salad. I will definitely make this soon. Flavors sounds great!
Debra says
Yum. This was so delicious and I love how interesting it was...I'm so tired of eating the same boring salads.
Kristina says
I enjoyed this!
Amanda Dixon says
What a beautiful dish! I love plums, so this was perfect for me.
Kay says
Wow, the flavours come together so well, this is one of the best salads I have tried, even the kids enjoyed it!
Pam Greer says
Love all the flavors in this salad!
Jeannie says
I love sourdough bread so I just need to make a salad too next time and have them
Kristen Greazel says
We made this and it turned out amazing!
Cooking with Carbs says
This is such an interesting and creative idea. I love the idea of using your bread and adding in front to along with it. Great recipe. I'll need to try this!
Sarah says
This salad is lovely !
Allergy Spot says
This sounds wonderful! What would you suggest as a possible substitute for the walnuts with the plum flavours (for nut allergy)? Thanks 🙂
Anaiah says
Yumm! So glad I tried this recipe. I love this roasted plum salad with sourdough bread! It's an amazing combination of flavors.