Panzanella salad

Discover the vibrant flavors of a traditional Panzanella salad, featuring crunchy white bread, juicy cherry tomatoes, tangy olives, fresh basil leaves, and a delightful garlic and olive oil dressing, perfect for a light and refreshing meal.

  • 21 Feb 2025
  • Cook time 15 min
  • Prep time 15 min
  • 8 Servings
  • 8 Ingredients

Panzanella salad

Panzanella is a classic Italian bread salad that's perfect for using up stale bread. This refreshing and flavorful dish combines crispy bread, juicy cherry tomatoes, briny olives, and fresh basil, all tossed in a light garlic and vinegar dressing. It's an ideal summertime meal or the perfect side dish for any occasion.

Ingredients:

1/3 cup red pepper
50g
4 slices white bread
140g
1/3 cup olive oil
80g
2 garlic cloves
6g
1.50 cups cherry tomatoes
270g
1/2 cup olives
120g
1/2 cup basil leaves
3.50g
1 tbsp vinegar
16g

Instructions:

1. Preheat the Oven:
- Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C).
2. Prepare the Bread:
- Place the torn pieces of white bread on a baking sheet.
- Drizzle or brush 1/4 cup of the olive oil over the bread pieces, making sure they are well-coated.
- Bake in the preheated oven for about 10-15 minutes, or until they are golden and crispy. Set aside to cool.
3. Prepare the Vegetables:
- While the bread is toasting, dice the red pepper and halve the cherry tomatoes and olives.
- Mince the garlic cloves.
- Roughly tear the basil leaves.
4. Assemble the Salad:
- In a large bowl, combine the diced red peppers, halved cherry tomatoes, and halved olives.
- Add the minced garlic and the toasted bread chunks to the bowl.
5. Dress the Salad:
- Drizzle the remaining olive oil (approximately 1/12 cup) and the vinegar over the salad mixture.
- Season with salt and pepper to taste.
- Gently toss everything together to ensure the bread soaks up the dressing and the flavors are well combined.
6. Add the Basil:
- Just before serving, add the torn basil leaves to the salad.
- Gently toss the salad once more to incorporate the basil evenly.
7. Serve:
- Transfer the salad to a serving plate or bowl.
- Serve immediately at room temperature for the best flavor and texture.

Tips:

- For the best flavor, use ripe and juicy cherry tomatoes.

- Allow the bread to sit out for a day or two, or lightly toast it to achieve the best consistency for the salad.

- Feel free to add other seasonal vegetables like cucumbers or red onions for extra crunch and flavor.

- Let the salad sit for about 10-15 minutes after mixing to allow the bread to soak up the dressing.

- Use good quality extra virgin olive oil for the dressing to enhance the flavors of the salad.

Panzanella salad is a delightful and versatile dish that brings together the vibrant flavors of fresh vegetables and the satisfying bite of toasted bread. Whether served as a main course or a side dish, it's sure to be a hit at your next meal. Enjoy this simple yet delicious recipe, and don't hesitate to get creative with additional ingredients to make it your own!

Nutrition Facts
Serving Size88 grams
Energy
Calories 70kcal4%
Protein
Protein 2.19g1%
Carbohydrates
Carbohydrates 11g3%
Fiber 1.19g3%
Sugar 2.10g2%
Fat
Fat 12g14%
Saturated 1.87g6%
Cholesterol 0.00mg-
Vitamins
Vitamin A 27ug3%
Choline 7mg1%
Vitamin B1 0.11mg9%
Vitamin B2 0.05mg4%
Vitamin B3 1.11mg7%
Vitamin B6 0.07mg4%
Vitamin B9 27ug7%
Vitamin B12 0.00ug0%
Vitamin C 13mg14%
Vitamin E 0.56mg4%
Vitamin K 5ug4%
Minerals
Calcium, Ca 54mg4%
Copper, Cu 0.08mg9%
Iron, Fe 1.64mg15%
Magnesium, Mg 10mg2%
Phosphorus, P 30mg3%
Potassium, K 120mg4%
Selenium, Se 4.27ug8%
Sodium, Na 190mg13%
Zinc, Zn 0.27mg2%
Water
Water 60g-
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.

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