Panzanella Bread Salad
Elevate your summer meals with the vibrant and rustic Panzanella Bread Salad, a quintessential Italian dish bursting with fresh Mediterranean flavors. This simple yet satisfying salad combines golden, oven-toasted cubes of day-old ciabatta or sourdough bread with juicy ripe tomatoes, crisp cucumbers, sweet red onions, and fragrant basil leaves. Tossed with a tangy red wine vinegar and garlic vinaigrette, this salad is a masterpiece of texture and taste. Optional capers add a briny kick, making it versatile and customizable to your palate. Ready in just 30 minutes, this recipe is perfect for a light lunch, a refreshing side dish, or a colorful contribution to any picnic or potluck. Perfectly balanced and effortlessly delicious, our Panzanella Bread Salad is sure to become a go-to in your recipe collection!
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Recipe Information
Ingredients
- 4 cups Day-old crusty bread (ciabatta or sourdough preferred)
- 6 tablespoons Extra virgin olive oil
- 3 tablespoons Red wine vinegar
- 1 clove Garlic, minced
- 4 cups Ripe tomatoes, diced
- 1 large Cucumber, peeled, seeded, and sliced
- 0.5 medium Red onion, thinly sliced
- 0.5 cup Fresh basil leaves, torn
- 1 tablespoon Capers (optional)
- 1 teaspoon Salt
- 0.5 teaspoon Freshly ground black pepper
Instructions
Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C).
Cut the day-old bread into 1-inch cubes and spread them on a baking sheet.
Drizzle 2 tablespoons of olive oil over the bread cubes. Toss to coat evenly and bake in the preheated oven for 8-10 minutes, or until the bread is golden and toasted. Set aside to cool.
In a small bowl, whisk together 4 tablespoons of olive oil, red wine vinegar, minced garlic, salt, and black pepper to make the vinaigrette.
In a large mixing bowl, combine the toasted bread, diced tomatoes, sliced cucumber, red onion, and basil leaves. If using, add the capers as well.
Pour the vinaigrette over the salad. Toss gently to coat all the ingredients evenly.
Let the salad sit for 15-20 minutes at room temperature to allow the flavors to meld and for the bread to soak up the dressing.
Serve immediately for the best taste and freshness, though it can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 1 day if needed.
Nutrition Facts
Calories |
3491 | ||
|---|---|---|---|
% Daily Value* |
|||
| Total Fat | 101.8 g | 131% | |
| Saturated Fat | 15.7 g | 78% | |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 0.0 g | ||
| Cholesterol | 0 mg | 0% | |
| Sodium | 7650 mg | 333% | |
| Total Carbohydrate | 553.5 g | 201% | |
| Dietary Fiber | 37.8 g | 135% | |
| Total Sugars | 41.7 g | ||
| Protein | 93.8 g | 188% | |
| Vitamin D | 0.0 mcg | 0% | |
| Calcium | 558 mg | 43% | |
| Iron | 28.7 mg | 159% | |
| Potassium | 4264 mg | 91% | |
*The % Daily Value tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
