Colorful, vibrant and flavorful, Panzanella is a classic Tuscan dish. Toasted bread and vegetables combine for the perfect summer salad.
Colorful, vibrant food is instantly appealing. Looking at a wall of penny candy or a heaping bowl of fruit, you are mesmerized by the abundance of color. If it’s appealing to the eye, it must be appealing to your taste buds. We felt this way when we first created this summery, visually enticing side dish. Panzanella salad, a classic Tuscan summer dish, celebrates fresh garden produce. 
Classic panzanella incorporates stale, unsalted Tuscan bread. Since we do not keep stale bread on hand, we decided to char a French baguette. The toasted baguette inside the dish absorbs the vinaigrette while maintaining its crunch alongside the fresh cubed vegetables. The married flavors are a kaleidoscope of color and texture.
Print
- Yield: 8 servings 1x
Ingredients
Salad
- 3 T EVOO
- 1 baguette cut into 1-inch cubes
- 2 large tomatoes (cut into 1-inch cubes)
- 1 cucumber (peeled, seeded, and sliced into 1-inch cubes)
- 1 red bell pepper (seeded and cut into 1-inch cubes)
- 1 yellow bell pepper (seeded and cut into 1-inch cubes)
- 1/2 red onion (thinly sliced)
- 1/2 c basil leaves (julienned)
- 8 oz feta cheese cut into 1/2-inch cubes
- salt and pepper throughout
Vinaigrette
- 1/2 c EVOO
- 3 T red wine vinegar
- 1 clove minced garlic
- 1 t Dijon mustard
- salt and pepper throughout
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit.
- In a large bowl, toss the bread cubes, EVOO, salt and pepper and arrange on a baking sheet. Cook in the oven until nicely browned on both sides, approximately 5-7 minutes.
- In a small bowl, whisk all the vinaigrette ingredients together.
- In a large salad bowl, mix the tomatoes, cucumber, red pepper, yellow pepper, red onion, and basil.
- Add the bread cubes and toss with the vinaigrette.
- Add the feta and season with salt and pepper. Let the salad sit for 20-30 minutes to allow the bread and vegetables to absorb the vinaigrette before serving. Serves 6-8.
- Category: Insalata
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use bread other than French baguette for this Panzanella?
Yes, you can use other types of bread, but make sure it is a crusty bread that can be toasted and will absorb the vinaigrette without becoming soggy.
What type of vegetables work best in this Classic Tuscan Panzanella?
Fresh garden produce such as ripe tomatoes, cucumbers, and bell peppers are ideal, as they add color and texture to the salad.
Is it necessary to use unsalted Tuscan bread for this recipe?
While traditional Panzanella uses unsalted Tuscan bread, you can char a French baguette as a substitute, just be mindful of the salt in your vinaigrette to balance flavors.
