Panzanella Salad
An Italian panzanella salad is a rustic blend of tomatoes, bread, and other salad vegetables. It's a delicious summer salad recipe that can be an appetizer, light meal or side dish.
Servings: 5
Equipment
Ingredients
- 3 tomatoes heirloom or organic if possible
- 1 tomato green
- 1 Tablespoon sea salt
- 3 Tablespoons olive oil extra virgin
- 1 Loaf Italian bread
- 6 Cloves garlic minced
- 1 shallot minced
- 2 Tablespoons red wine vinegar
- 20 Leaves basil fresh
- 1 Teaspoon salt
- 1 Teaspoon black pepper fresh cracked
- 1 Teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 cucumber chopped
- 1 red onion thinly sliced
- 4 Ounces fresh mozzarella cubed
- parmesan shaved, as garnish
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
- Chop up the tomatoes and put them into a colander over a bowl. Sprinkle the tomatoes with a tablespoon of salt, stir to assure each piece gets salted, and let sit for 15 minutes.
- Slice bread in half and brush each cut side with olive oil. Sprinkle half the minced garlic and half the minced shallot over the top and place into the oven for 10 minutes to toast.
- Slice the toasted bread into bite sized pieces.
- Whisk the tomato juice with remaining garlic, remaining shallot, the vinegar, salt, pepper, oregano, olive oil, mozzarella and basil to make the dressing.
- Toss everything together with the dressing.
- Top with parmesan shavings and serve immediately.
Notes
Don't skip the draining: Don’t rush this step—salting and draining the chopped tomatoes ensures the salad isn’t watery and gives you a flavorful base for the dressing with the reserved tomato juice.
Toast the bread just right: Aim for golden and crisp on the outside but still a little soft inside. This helps the bread soak up the dressing without turning soggy too quickly.
Toss just before serving: Combine all the ingredients right before serving to maintain the perfect balance of textures—crispy bread, juicy tomatoes, and fresh, vibrant herbs.
Toast the bread just right: Aim for golden and crisp on the outside but still a little soft inside. This helps the bread soak up the dressing without turning soggy too quickly.
Toss just before serving: Combine all the ingredients right before serving to maintain the perfect balance of textures—crispy bread, juicy tomatoes, and fresh, vibrant herbs.
Nutrition
Calories: 189kcal | Carbohydrates: 10g | Protein: 7g | Fat: 14g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 8g | Cholesterol: 18mg | Sodium: 2014mg | Potassium: 415mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 5g | Vitamin A: 1132IU | Vitamin C: 19mg | Calcium: 160mg | Iron: 1mg
QR code
Scan this QR code with your phone's camera to view this recipe on your mobile device.
