Description
Savor the delightful flavors of Panzanella Salad, featuring crusty bread, ripe tomatoes, and fresh mozzarella. This easy recipe is perfect for summer gatherings and healthy meals, showcasing classic Italian ingredients that blend beautifully together.
Ingredients
Scale
- 4 cups crusty bread, cut into 1-inch cubes (day old works best)
- 2 cups cherry tomatoes, halved
- 1 large cucumber, chopped
- ½ small red onion, thinly sliced
- ½ cup fresh mozzarella pearls (or chopped mozzarella)
- ¼ cup fresh basil, torn
- 2 tablespoons olive oil (for toasting bread)
- ¼ cup olive oil
- 2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
- 1 teaspoon dijon mustard
- 1 clove garlic, minced
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400°F (200°C) and spread the bread cubes on a baking sheet. Drizzle with 2 tablespoons of olive oil and toss to coat.
- Bake the bread cubes for about 8-10 minutes until they are golden and crisp outside but still soft inside. Allow to cool slightly after removing from the oven.
- While the bread is toasting, prepare the vegetables by halving the cherry tomatoes, chopping the cucumber, thinly slicing the red onion, and tearing the fresh basil. If using large mozzarella, cut into bite-sized pieces.
- In a small bowl, whisk together the olive oil, red wine vinegar, dijon mustard, minced garlic, salt, and black pepper until well combined.
- In a large bowl, combine the toasted bread, tomatoes, cucumber, red onion, mozzarella, and basil.
- Drizzle the dressing over the salad and gently toss to coat everything without breaking the bread too much.
- Let the salad sit for 10-15 minutes to allow the flavors to meld and the bread to absorb the dressing.
- Taste the salad and adjust the seasoning with additional salt, pepper, or olive oil as needed before serving.
Notes
Using day-old bread enhances the texture and flavor of the salad.
Letting the salad sit before serving allows the bread to soak up the dressing without becoming mushy.
Feel free to customize with other vegetables like bell peppers or radishes.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 230
- Sugar: 2g
- Sodium: 300mg
- Fat: 15g
- Saturated Fat: 4g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 20g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 5g
- Cholesterol: 15mg