As my sister said to me - 'who would have thought bread and tomatoes could be so delicious'.? Actually, it wasn’t a surprise to me because so many things start with a holy trinity of good bread, tomatoes and punchy olive oil. The secret is in the bread rather than the toms. The wrong bread and it will degenerate into pap. Tasty pap but pap nonetheless.
Almond Thief sourdough works, as does Baker Toms ciabatta or focaccia. Remove any tough crust and tear into pieces. Leave somewhere warm to dry out overnight. +
If, when you've finished, the salad seems a bit dry, don't despair - juts add a little more passata, oil and vinegar..
It's very simple. Toss the bread in a couple of tbsp of olive oil and lay out on a baking sheet. Roast at 180deg C until it has a bit of crunch but hasn’t started to brown.
Mix everything together, apart from the bread and green bits. Check seasoning and punchiness.
Gently fold into the stale bread.
Leave to stand and get acquainted for half an hour. Add more oil and vinegar if it still seems a bit dry.
Add the basil, rocket and peas/beans and serve.