Panzanella Salad is a classic Tuscan tomato and bread salad that is the perfect way to showcase ripe colorful produce and a fabulous oil and vinegar ~ it couldn’t be simpler or more delicious!
panzanella salad pairs juicy tomatoes with crunchy bread
It sounds like an unlikely pairing until you take your first bite. If you’ve ever had tomato toast, Italian bruschetta, or Spanish pan con tomate, you’ll know the delicious effect tomatoes can have on bread. Panzanella is another Italian invention that celebrates the combination in salad form.
related: Grilled Cornbread Panzanella
what you’ll need
- crusty bread
- day old is best.
- tomatoes
- I used colorful heirloom tomatoes, both full sized and cherries for a truly gorgeous salad.
- cucumber
- thin skinned English cucumbers are best here.
- red onion
- garlic
- basil
- olive oil
- wine vinegar
- salt and fresh cracked black pepper
how to assemble a panzanella salad
- Cut your bread in cubes and toast until crisp.
- Rub the cut side of a garlic clove along the inside of your serving bowl.
- Add fabulous tomatoes, cukes, red onion, and basil to the bowl.
- Mix up a simple vinaigrette.
- Toss and serve asap!
this simple salad is surprisingly complex
At its core, this salad is all about the mixing of the tomato juices and olive oil with the bread. Both the flavor and the texture are memorable. There are the colors of the tomatoes, especially if you’ve used multi-colored heirloom tomatoes like I did. Then there’s the variety of textures…the crusty cubes of bread, chunky tomatoes, half moons of crunchy cucumber, and slivers of red onion. There are no greens except for the roughly torn basil leaves which contribute a lovely licorice taste.
panzanella salad dressing
The dressing brings it all together ~ with the fruitiness of the olive oil, the tang of red wine vinegar, and the hot bite of coarse black pepper.
quality ingredients are key
This kind of salad is the ultimate late summer experience, but actually there are some pretty good tomatoes available year round these days, and the bread gives it a heartier feel that seems appropriate for cooler weather. There are a few keys to making a great panzanella salad:
- The first, obviously, is to source great tomatoes.
- And the crustier the bread, the better. When it soaks in the dressing, the soft part of the bread will become almost custard like, but the crust will retain its firmness.
- Finally, get a really fruity green olive oil. Something that tastes amazing all by itself. I’ve been making a point to pick up a different brand every time I replenish my supply. I’m finding that the local California oils are my favorite, they have the freshest, fruitiest flavor.
- That’s it, you’ve got this!
summer was made for salad!
Panzanella Salad
Ingredients
- 2 slices very crusty Italian or artisan bread, cut into bite sized cubes
- 1 clove garlic, peeled and halved
- 3 cups diced tomatoes, about 5 or 6 small heirloom tomatoes
- 1/2 medium seedless cucumber, halved lengthwise and sliced
- 1/2 small red onion, cut in fine wedges
- 1 bunch basil leaves, roughly torn
- 4 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil
- 3 Tbsp red wine vinegar
- salt and fresh cracked black pepper
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 325F
- Put the bread on an ungreased baking sheet and toast in the oven for about 5 to 7 minutes.
- Rub the inside of your serving bowl with the cut sides of the garlic. Discard the garlic. Put the tomatoes, cucumber, onions and basil leaves in the bowl. Add the cubes of bread.
- Mix a simple vinaigrette with the oil and vinegar. Taste it and adjust it to suit you. Stir vigorously with a spoon, and then drizzle over the salad Toss well.
- Season with salt and freshly cracked black pepper.
- Let the salad sit for about 15-30 minutes and then serve it up!
Notes
Nutrition
This is a salad I have yet to try. I hope I have another banner year for tomatoes because this would be perfect with fresh off the vine tomatoes!
There you got with those gorgeous tomatoes again! This is such a refreshing looking meal. I love the idea of a panzanella and bet it is super tasty!
very colorful recipe! it looks scrumptious!
I’m a new follower, I just discovered your blog and read some of your latest recipes, they’re all yummy!
Happy Belated Birthday!
Panzanella is my FAVORITE summer salad. There is nothing I love more than this salad and a glass of Chardonnay on a summer’s night.
I actually made a version of this last night, but with bacon so it would be a little more hearty.
Happy birthday! Several days of take-out sounds like a great low-key celebration to me. 🙂 This salad looks so good–and I’m super jealous of those beautiful tomatoes!
Happy birthday.
I love panzanella salad and (ssh,) sometimes I eat all of the bread first 🙂 Such pretty tomatoes you found in winter. I think I might be jealous.
Sam
Oh Sue, a belated Happy Birthday! I love panzanella! I made it last summer. I was also afraid of the bread aspect….kept thinking it would get soggy….but it was perfect! Thanks for inspiring me to make this even in winter!
Happy birthday!
Happy Birthday! It sounds like you had some mini feasts for yourself!
This is one of my favorite summer salads. I love all the heirloom tomatoes you’ve added.
My good friend Susan at From Beyond My Kitchen Window makes a delicious one! When she brought it to my cottage it also had grilled shrimp – yum!
Have a nice weekend!