Panzanella Salad Recipe - perfect summer salad!
Simply delicious traditional panzanella salad is a summer treat with loads of red ripe tomatoes, chunks of crusty bread, and fresh green basil, dressed in a white wine vinaigrette.
Servings: 6
Ingredients
- 6 cups cubed bread (we recommend sourdough or French)
- 3 tablespoons olive oil
- 2 large tomatoes, cut into 1-inch cubes (about 1 pound)
- ½ large red onion, sliced thinly (see note)
- 1 cucumber, quartered and sliced into ½ -inch chunks (see note)
- ½ cup torn basil leaves
- ¼ cup roughly chopped flat leaf parsley leaves
- 2 tablespoons capers, drained
For the vinaigrette
- ¼ cup olive oil
- ¼ cup white wine vinegar
- 1 teaspoon minced garlic
- ½ teaspoon Dijon mustard
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- ¼ teaspoon coarse ground black pepper
Instructions
- Make croutons. Heat oven to 375ºF. Combine the bread cubes with 3 tablespoons olive oil on a large rimmed baking sheet. Bake until golden brown and crispy, about 20 minutes. If you’re using super fresh bread, the croutons will take a little longer to become golden brown. If the bread is stale and dry, the croutons may brown faster, so keep an eye on them. The size of your bread cubes will make a difference in how long it may take for them to crisp up. If you prefer, make air fryer croutons.6 cups cubed bread, 3 tablespoons olive oil
- In a small bowl, whisk vinaigrette ingredients together: ¼ cup olive oil, vinegar, garlic, mustard, salt, and pepper.¼ cup olive oil, ¼ cup white wine vinegar, 1 teaspoon minced garlic, ½ teaspoon Dijon mustard, ½ teaspoon kosher salt, ¼ teaspoon coarse ground black pepper
- In a large bowl, combine tomatoes, onion, cucumber, basil, parsley, and capers; mix. Add bread cubes and toss with vinaigrette. Taste and season with salt and pepper as needed.2 large tomatoes, cut into 1-inch cubes, ½ large red onion, sliced thinly, 1 cucumber, quartered and sliced into ½ -inch chunks, ½ cup torn basil leaves, ¼ cup roughly chopped flat leaf parsley leaves, 2 tablespoons capers, drained
- Serve immediately or let the salad sit for 30 minutes to an hour to let the flavors develop.
Video
Notes
- Take the bite out of onions: Soak onions, sliced or diced, in ice water for 10 minutes or so. Drain well and pat dry with paper towels before adding them to the salad. This step is optional, but it takes the strength of the onions down a notch and prevents them from being overwhelming.
- Cucumber note: If using an English cucumber, there’s no need to peel or remove seeds. If using a regular waxed cucumber, peel, quarter, and remove seeds.
- Make ahead ideas: Prepare the components of the panzanella ahead of time. Make the croutons and, after cooling thoroughly, store in a tightly covered container for up to a week. Cut the veggies and refrigerate. Make the vinaigrette a day ahead and store in the refrigerator. Allow to come to room temperature before using and shake well.
Nutrition
Serving: 1serving | Calories: 316kcal | Carbohydrates: 33g | Protein: 7g | Fat: 18g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g | Monounsaturated Fat: 12g | Trans Fat: 1g | Sodium: 569mg | Potassium: 315mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 6g | Vitamin A: 716IU | Vitamin C: 12mg | Calcium: 102mg | Iron: 3mg
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