Summer Panzanella Salad
Summer Panzanella Salad with golden chunks of bread, tomatoes, basil, and a simple vinaigrette. This Tuscan-style tomato bread salad is perfect for summer entertaining.
Prep Time20 minutes mins
Cook Time15 minutes mins
Total Time1 hour hr
Course: Salad, Side Dish
Cuisine: Italian
Diet: Vegetarian
Servings: 6 servings
- 8 oz. ciabatta or baguette, preferably stale, cut into 1-inch cubes (about 6 cups)
- 2 Tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil
- 1/2 tsp. kosher salt
- 1/2 cup thinly sliced red onion
- 1 lb. tomatoes (heirloom, cherry tomatoes, or a mix of both) halved or cubed
- 1 cup cubed mango, peaches, or nectarines
- 1/3 cup fresh chopped basil leaves, plus more for garnish
- 6 oz. mozzarella or burrata cheese, torn or cubed
Panzanella Dressing
- 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
- 2 Tbsp. red wine vinegar (sub lemon juice)
- 2 tsp. honey
- 1 tsp. Dijon mustard
- 1 garlic clove, grated
- 1/2 tsp. kosher salt
- 1/2 tsp. black pepper
Preheat oven to 425ºF. Spread bread on a baking sheet and drizzle with 2 Tbsp. olive oil and 1/2 tsp. salt; toss to coat. Bake for 10 to 13 minutes, or until edges are golden brown.
While bread toasts, prepare Panzanella Dressing by combining all ingredients (olive oil through black pepper) in a large serving bowl; stir with a whisk. Add red onion and let sit for 10 minutes.
Add toasted bread, tomatoes, fruit of choice, and basil to bowl with dressing; toss to coat. Let sit for at least 30 minutes. Garnish with cheese and additional basil, if desired, right before serving. (If needed, toss with a little more olive oil, vinegar, and salt, too.)
*SERVE WITH: Panzanella salad is delicious served alongside anything hot off the grill--chicken, fish, burgers, or shrimp kebabs. Additionally, it makes a great side dish for soup or stews, or cheesy panini sandwiches.
*KEEP: Tomato bread salad doesn't keep longer than 1 day. It's best to make it a couple hours before serving, which gives the bread long enough to soak up the dressing. After it's refrigerated, the bread will quickly become soggy.
Serving: 1.3cups | Calories: 320kcal | Carbohydrates: 26g | Protein: 10g | Fat: 19g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Sodium: 660mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 10g