Best 7 Panzanella Salad Bread Salad Recipes

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Panzanella salad is a refreshing and flavorful bread salad that originated in Tuscany, Italy. It is typically made with stale bread, tomatoes, cucumbers, onions, and basil, and is dressed with a simple vinaigrette. Panzanella is a great way to use up leftover bread, and it is a delicious and healthy summer meal. With so many variations on this classic recipe, you are sure to find a panzanella salad that you will love.

Here are our top 7 tried and tested recipes!

PANZANELLA (ITALIAN BREAD SALAD)



Panzanella (Italian Bread Salad) image

Why throw away the rest of that good, dense loaf you picked up at the bakery the other day? This is what the Italians do with day-old (or older) bread. Simply delicious!!!

Provided by evelynathens

Categories     Onions

Time 15m

Yield 4-6 serving(s)

Number Of Ingredients 9

2 tomatoes, cut into bite-size pieces
1 small cucumber, peeled and sliced
1 small red onion, thinly sliced
1 clove garlic, very finely minced
1 cup fresh basil leaf, torn into small pieces
1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil, plus more as needed
3 tablespoons balsamic vinegar or 3 tablespoons red wine vinegar, plus more as needed
salt & freshly ground black pepper, to taste
6 -8 slices thick country bread, torn into bite-size pieces (sourdough is good - dense, bakery bread)

Steps:

  • In a bowl, combine the tomatoes, cucumber, onion, garlic and basil.
  • Drizzle with the 1/2 cup olive oil and the 3 tblsps vinegar, season with salt and pepper and toss well.
  • Place half of the bread in a wide, shallow bowl.
  • Spoon half of the tomato mixture over the bread.
  • Layer the remaining bread on top and then the remaining tomato mixture.
  • Cover and refrigerate for 1 hour.
  • Just before serving, toss the salad and adjust the seasonings with salt and pepper.
  • If the bread seems dry, add a little oil or vinegar.
  • Serve immediately.

ITALIAN BREAD SALAD (PANZANELLA)



Italian Bread Salad (Panzanella) image

Like so many Mediterranean bread salads, stale bread is combined here with red onion and tomato and dressed with vinegar and olive oil. It's like a bread salad version of gazpacho.

Provided by Martha Rose Shulman

Time 1h30m

Yield Serves 6

Number Of Ingredients 10

1 pound stale country bread or baguette, cut in thick slices
1 small red onion, sliced very thin
Cold water
1 pound ripe tomatoes, chopped
2 tablespoons chopped fresh basil
2 tablespoons chopped flat-leaf parsley
2 tablespoons red wine vinegar or sherry vinegar (more to taste)
1 large garlic clove, minced or crushed in a mortar and pestle
Salt and freshly ground pepper
1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil

Steps:

  • If your bread is very hard, douse it with water first and saw it into a few pieces that will fit into a medium bowl. Cover with the onions. Pour on cold water to cover and let sit for 20 minutes. Lift the onions off the bread and rinse in a strainer. Drain the bread, squeeze out excess water and crumble the bread into a salad bowl.
  • Add the tomatoes, basil, and parsley to the bowl. Mix together the vinegar, garlic, salt, pepper, and olive oil, and toss with the bread mixture. Cover and refrigerate for 1 hour or longer before serving.

Nutrition Facts : @context http, Calories 304, UnsaturatedFat 9 grams, Carbohydrate 42 grams, Fat 12 grams, Fiber 4 grams, Protein 9 grams, SaturatedFat 2 grams, Sodium 419 milligrams, Sugar 7 grams, TransFat 0 grams

ITALIAN PANZANELLA BREAD SALAD



Italian Panzanella Bread Salad image

Italy's famous bread salad is usually associated with Tuscany, but my husband's father emigrated from Sicily, so I made up this version of bread salad using the flavors of Sicilian cuisine.

Provided by josephinecooks

Categories     Salad

Time 1h32m

Yield 10

Number Of Ingredients 16

8 ounces country style white bread, cut into 1 inch cubes
3 tablespoons garlic flavored olive oil
½ teaspoon coarse salt
1 (15 ounce) can garbanzo beans, rinsed and drained
2 cups red or yellow teardrop tomatoes, halved
⅓ cup chopped green bell pepper
⅓ cup chopped red bell pepper
1 small red onion, cut into 3/4 inch slices
10 kalamata olives, pitted and halved
⅓ cup basil pesto
¼ cup balsamic vinegar
1 tablespoon minced fresh rosemary
¼ teaspoon black pepper
4 ounces crumbled goat cheese
1 head green or red leaf lettuce
¼ cup toasted pine nuts

Steps:

  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
  • Toss the bread cubes with the olive oil to evenly coat. Sprinkle with salt, and toss again. Spread the cubed bread evenly over a baking sheet, and bake in the preheated oven until golden brown, about 12 minutes. Remove from oven and allow to cool completely.
  • Toss together the garbanzo beans, tomatoes, peppers, onion, and kalamata olives in a large bowl. In a separate bowl, whisk together the pesto, balsamic vinegar, rosemary, and pepper. Toss the tomatoes with the pesto mixture, and let stand at room temperature for 30 minutes to 1 hour.
  • To serve, toss the toasted bread cubes and goat cheese with the tomato mixture. Line a serving platter with a few lettuce leaves. Shred the remaining lettuce, and mound in the center of the platter. Spoon the bread mixture over the lettuce, and sprinkle with toasted pine nuts.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 263.8 calories, Carbohydrate 24.5 g, Cholesterol 11.6 mg, Fat 15 g, Fiber 3.1 g, Protein 8.8 g, SaturatedFat 4.5 g, Sodium 451.9 mg, Sugar 2.1 g

PANZANELLA SALAD (BREAD SALAD)



Panzanella Salad (Bread Salad) image

I frequent a restaurant that serves something like this. After tinkering, I think I found my version!!

Provided by Andrea Longenecker

Categories     Salad     Vegetable Salad Recipes

Time 35m

Yield 8

Number Of Ingredients 13

4 plum (roma) tomatoes, seeded and cubed
1 cucumber, peeled and diced
½ red onion, thinly sliced
½ cup cubed fontina cheese
½ cup pitted and chopped kalamata olives
2 tablespoons coarsely chopped fresh basil
½ teaspoon dried oregano
½ teaspoon dried parsley
½ teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
½ cup extra virgin olive oil
3 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
1 (1 pound) loaf day-old Italian bread, cubed

Steps:

  • Toss tomatoes, cucumber, onion, fontina cheese, olives, basil, oregano, parsley, salt, and black pepper with olive oil and balsamic vinegar in a large bowl. Allow mixture to rest for 10 minutes.
  • Place bread cubes in a large dish. Pour tomato mixture over bread and toss to coat. Bread salad should be served within 2 hours.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 352 calories, Carbohydrate 33.1 g, Cholesterol 9.6 mg, Fat 20.9 g, Fiber 2.3 g, Protein 7.8 g, SaturatedFat 4.3 g, Sodium 684.3 mg, Sugar 3 g

PANZANELLA (ITALIAN BREAD SALAD)



Panzanella (Italian Bread Salad) image

While this is quick to put together, it does require about 1-1/2 hours to marinate (which is not included in the prep time). It goes great with soup (like Pasta e Fagioli).

Provided by JackieOhNo

Categories     Breads

Time 25m

Yield 4 serving(s)

Number Of Ingredients 17

6 slices Italian bread (1-inch thick)
1 cucumber, pared, thinly sliced
2 bell peppers, combination yellow and red, seeded, cut into thin slices
1/8 cup snipped fresh chives
1 medium red onion, thinly slivered (about 1 cup)
12 oil-cured black olives
1/4-1/3 cup olive oil
2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
3 ripe large plum tomatoes, cut into large dice
3 tablespoons capers, drained
1 garlic clove, minced
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon fresh ground pepper
2 tablespoons chopped fresh basil
olive oil, and
red wine vinegar (for serving)

Steps:

  • Heat broiler. Arrange bread on baking sheet lined with aluminum foil. Toast 4-6 inches from heat, turning once, until light golden. Tear into large pieces and drop into mixing bowl. Place half the bread in large salad bowl. Scatter half the cucumbers, peppers, and chives, then half the onions and olives over bread.
  • Combine 1/4 cup oil, both vinegars, tomaotes, capers, garlic, salt, and pepper and spoon half over salad. Repeat layers with remaining ingredients. Stir once or twice but do not combine thoroughly. If bread seems dry, add oil. Refrigerate covered 1 hour to allow flavors to blend.
  • About 20 minutes before serving, let panzanella warm to room temperature. Taste and adjust seasonings. Garnish salad with basil and serve with cruets of oil and vinegar.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 270.9, Fat 16.4, SaturatedFat 2.4, Sodium 1054.5, Carbohydrate 27.9, Fiber 4, Sugar 6.6, Protein 4.8

PANZANELLA (ITALIAN BREAD SALAD)



Panzanella (Italian Bread Salad) image

Categories     Leafy Green     Tomato     Salad     Salad Dressing     Side

Number Of Ingredients 14

1 and 1/2 cups Rustic Bread (not baguette - too hard), cubed into bite-size pieces (she uses take and bake bread from grocery or large french bread)
3 tablespoons Fustini's Varietal Olive Oil (she likes Arbequina and Hojiblanca)
1/4 teaspoon Salt and Pepper (1/4 tsp each)
1 l Large Heirloom tomato
1/2 cup Cherry or grape tomatoes
1 bunch Fresh mozzarella balls, quartered
1 teaspoon Kosher salt
5 ounces Fresh baby arugula, spinach, or spring mix, chopped to bite-size
4 tablespoons Basil, chopped
1/4 cup Sliced red onion
2-1/2 tablespoons Fustini's Herbs of Naples balsamic vinegar (2 to 2-1/2 T)
5 tablespoons Fustini's olive oil (arbequina)
1 pinch salt and pepper (pinch of each)
1/2 teaspoon Italian herbs

Steps:

  • Whisk dressing ingredients together and set aside (herbs of naples balsamic, arbequina oil, s&p, italian herbs).
  • In a non-stick pan, heat the varietal olive oil, basil, and salt and pepper. Add bread cubes and toss until crisp . Want toasted crisp on outside, soft inside. (Can also do on a sheet pan and toast in the oven.) Let cool.
  • In a large mixing bowl, add tomatoes and season with kosher salt. add the cooled bread cubes, arugula, basil and onion.
  • Pour the dressing over the salad and toss thoroughly and serve (note: just need a small amount of dressing until it just coats).

PANZANELLA BREAD SALAD



Panzanella Bread Salad image

Chucks Hughes' freshly prepared panzanella bread salad with garlic shrimp is a gourmet appetizer that will satisfy anyone!

Provided by Chuck Hughes

Time 2h45m

Yield s: 4 to 6 servings

Number Of Ingredients 15

Handful of fresh basil
4 slices of day-old sourdough bread, cubed
1/2 cup/125 ml of olive oil
12 cherry tomatoes, halved
Handful of dandelions
1 red bell pepper, charred, peeled and diced
1/2 red onion, thinly sliced
8 capers berries
1 clove garlic, smashed
3 or 4 large tomatoes, halved
1/2 pound/225 g of asparagus, cut into 1-inch pieces
1 tablespoon/15 ml butter
15 medium-size shrimp, deveined but tails intact
Salt and freshly ground pepper
1 burrata cheese, mozzarella di buffalo, or feta cheese

Steps:

  • Preheat oven at 350 degrees F/200 degrees C.
  • Place the sourdough bread on a parchment paper-lined baking tray. Drizzle with olive oil and season with salt and pepper. Bake in the oven for 10 minutes or until the bread is golden brown.
  • Meanwhile, in a bowl, mix together the dandelions, fresh basil, cherry tomatoes, roasted pepper, red onion, and caper berries. Keep aside in the refrigerator.
  • Chop a garlic clove in half, and rub it on the bottom and sides of a large bowl. While the croutons are still hot, add them into the bowl to infuse the garlic flavor. Squeeze the tomato halves over the croutons to allow their juices to mix in. Once the tomatoes have been juiced, cut up the remainder of the tomatoes and toss in with the crouton mixture. Drizzle with olive oil and let it rest at room temperature for 2 hours for the bread to soak all the juices from the tomatoes and olive oil.
  • In a pan on medium-high heat, saute the asparagus in butter for 2 minutes. Season with salt and pepper. Remove from the pan and toss it with the croutons. Add the shrimp to the same pan and saute in olive oil for 1 minute, on each side. Add the garlic. Season with salt and pepper.
  • Combine the croutons and asparagus with the dandelion salad.
  • For serving: Cut the burrata cheese on the serving plate, season with salt and pepper. Pile the panzanella salad and the garlic shrimp on top.

Tips:

  • Choose the right bread: Stale or day-old bread is ideal for panzanella salad, as it absorbs the dressing better and holds its shape. Ciabatta, focaccia, or sourdough are all good choices.
  • Cut the bread into cubes: The size of the bread cubes is up to you, but 1-inch cubes are a good starting point. If you cut the bread into smaller cubes, they will absorb more dressing and become softer.
  • Toast the bread cubes: Toasting the bread cubes adds a nice crispy texture to the salad. You can toast them in a toaster oven, on a baking sheet in the oven, or in a skillet on the stovetop.
  • Use a variety of vegetables: Panzanella salad is a great way to use up leftover vegetables. Tomatoes, cucumbers, onions, and bell peppers are all classic choices, but you can also add other vegetables like zucchini, eggplant, or artichokes.
  • Make a flavorful dressing: The dressing for panzanella salad is typically made with olive oil, vinegar, and herbs. You can use any type of vinegar you like, but red wine vinegar or balsamic vinegar are good choices. For the herbs, basil, oregano, and thyme are all good options.
  • Let the salad sit: After you assemble the salad, let it sit for at least 30 minutes before serving. This allows the flavors to meld and the bread to absorb the dressing.

Conclusion:

Panzanella salad is a delicious and refreshing salad that is perfect for summer. It is easy to make and can be customized to your liking. With its combination of fresh vegetables, toasted bread, and flavorful dressing, panzanella salad is a surefire hit at any potluck or barbecue.

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