Recipes, Guides, Lifestyles by GRATSI

Acquasale Pugliese
EAT

GIOVANNI'S KITCHEN

Acquasale Pugliese

Rustic, refreshing, and made for summer. A few ingredients that come together to celebrate the soul of Southern Italy.

By Giovanni Siracusa

 |  

July 21, 2025

Acquasale Pugliese

By Giovanni Siracusa

Ingredients

  • 500g

    cherry tomatoes

  • 500g

    rustic bread

  • 2

    cucumbers, peeled

  • 100-200

    ml water

  • Extra virgin olive oil, to taste

  • Fresh oregano, to taste

  • Fine sea salt, to taste

TOTAL TIME

10 minutes

4-6 servings

This dish started as a humble meal for farmers and fishermen, but it’s still one of the most refreshing and satisfying summer dishes you will ever make.

A wooden board holds cucumbers, a jar of salt, vine tomatoes, a bunch of dried herbs, a bottle of oil, and two bread rolls with greenery and a body of water in the background.

STEP 1

Rinse all the vegetables. Cut the bread into rustic cubes or rough pieces. If it’s very hard, lightly splash with water to soften.

STEP 2

Half the cherry tomatoes, then cut each half in half again. Peel the cucumbers, slice them lengthwise, and cut into half-moon pieces about 1 cm thick.

A collage shows hands peeling cucumber, slicing cucumber on a cutting board, and a plate of chopped tomatoes, all outdoors on a wooden table with greenery and water in the background.

STEP 3

In a large bowl or deep plate, combine water, a drizzle of olive oil, and a pinch of salt. Whisk briefly to emulsify.

A clear glass bowl filled with a small amount of yellow liquid sits on a white table outdoors, with greenery and a view of water in the blurred background.

STEP 4

Add the chopped tomatoes, cucumbers, and bread directly into the bowl. Sprinkle generously with fresh oregano and toss gently to combine.

A person mixes a bowl of salad with tomatoes, cucumber, and bread cubes using a spoon. The bowl is on a shiny metal surface outdoors.

STEP 5

Let it sit for a few minutes so the bread can soak up the liquid but still hold some bite.

Serve with a glass of Gratsi White as a light lunch or chilled antipasto. It tastes like seaside simplicity and sunshine in every bite. Buon Appetito!

A man in a dark shirt stands outside, holding a bowl of salad with croutons, tomatoes, and cucumbers. Behind him are rooftops, greenery, and mountains under a blue sky with clouds.

The market