INGREDIENTS
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3 tablespoons bacon fat (or olive oil)
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2 cups (1/2-inch diced) French bread, preferably a crusty baguette
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16 plum tomatoes, cut 1/2-inch dice, about 2 1/2 pounds (use the best tomatoes you can find -- beefsteak will be juicier)
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1 tablespoon minced garlic (3 cloves)
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2 tablespoons sugar (optional -- we skipped it)
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2 teaspoons kosher salt
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1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
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1/2 cup julienned basil leaves, lightly packed
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1 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese