Perfectly ripe tomatoes, hearty Italian bread, and a tangy vinaigrette make this easy panzanella salad! Drying and toasting the bread with a little olive oil in the oven gives you the best texture. Check out more tips on how to make this delicious summer salad recipe!
A classic Tuscan bread salad, panzanella is made of ripe tomatoes, dried Italian bread, and a simple tangy dressing. But for something so simple as bread and tomatoes, panzanella salad is one surprisingly complex and delightful summer dish, and one of my favorite things to make with tomatoes.
As much as tomatoes seem like the star of this salad, my Italian friends will say that panzanella is not another tomato salad with some bread croutons; it's a bread salad that can be made with tomatoes or any other vegetables (although I stick with the classic tomatoes in this panzanella recipe).
The idea of bread salads is a familiar thing in different parts of the Mediterranean (if you've had my fattoush salad, you know it's another delicious example that gives leftover bread--in this case, pita--a new life). And beyond salads, in Mediterranean cooking, you'll find other ways to use up some bread in soups like gazpacho and ribollita, to sweet like sopapillas and endless bread puddings and more.
So, about traditional panzanella
The Guardian points out that as with other peasant dishes born of necessity, from Florence down to Rome, there are endless variations of this salad, but the non-negotiable is hefty day-old country bread. Prepared the traditional way, this salad will always start with stale bread that's soaked in water for about 15 minutes or so, then wrung out and cut up or crumbled by hand to be tossed with vegetables (whatever is in season), extra virgin olive oil, and red wine vinegar.
But after tinkering a few times, I give you my favorite version of panzanella (mine does have mozzeralla), and I'm excited to share some tips that have made all the difference for me.
Dry and toast your bread for panzanella!
The best bread for this salad is a crusty loaf with a dense, chewy center and a good crunchy crust that allows it to sit in the dressing without falling apart and getting too soggy. Try Italian country bread or ciabatta, and if you remember, tear the bread up and allow it to sit uncovered for a few hours or overnight so that it will dry and harden. And before you make the salad, go ahead and toss the bread in some good extra virgin olive oil and toast it in the oven for a few minutes until it crisps in some parts but remains somewhat chewy too.
By drying your bread and toasting it first, it will absorb the delicious dressing and will become soft and delicious without getting too soggy.
Use plump ripe tomatoes
Although you can use cucumbers or other garden veggies that are in season, I'm all about a simple tomato panzanella. Look for perfectly ripened tomatoes that are plump and heavy for their size. They should be firm with some give, and the skin should be tight without blemishes. As far as what kind of tomatoes to use, in this recipe, I used vine ripe tomatoes but when colorful heirloom tomatoes are in season, that's what I like to use. If you choose to use small tomatoes like cherry tomatoes or grape tomatoes, for example, be sure to cut the them in half, because if you keep them whole, you miss out on their juice which is an important part of the tasty dressing.
Salt your tomatoes first
Should you salt your tomatoes first? In this recipe, I highly recommend that you slice and salt your tomatoes before you make the salad. This only takes about 15 minutes or so for the salt to draw out the juices of the tomatoes. This intensifies the flavor of the tomatoes and gives you some delicious liquid to use in making the dressing! And it's convenient, since you work on toasting your bread while the tomatoes are sitting in the colander.
The dressing
A traditional panzanella recipe will call for the simplest of dressings made of good extra virgin olive oil and red wine vinegar. The dressing in this salad is kicked up a couple of notches with the addition of fresh garlic, thyme, and a small squeeze of Dijon mustard. And don't forget, use the tomato juice you created from salting the tomatoes.
How to make panzanella salad
- Dry and toast the bread. If you have the time, tear the bread up and spread it on a large baking sheet leaving it for a few hours or overnight to dry. When you're ready, toss the bread with a bit of good olive oil and stick in the oven for 10 to 15 minutes at 400°F until the edges get somewhat crispy (you still need the bread to be chewy).
- Salt the tomatoes. Slice up your tomatoes and put them in a colander and sprinkle with a large pinch of kosher salt. Toss them gently and let them sit for 10 to 15 minutes while the bread is toasting.
- Make the dressing. In the same big bowl with the tomato juice, add ¼ cup red wine vinegar, ½ cup of good extra virgin olive oil, fresh garlic (1 to 2 minced cloves), fresh thyme, and a squeeze of Dijon mustard. Season with kosher salt and whisk to combine.
- Combine the tomatoes, bread, and dressing. Add the tomatoes, toasted bread cubes, shallots, fresh basil, and mozzarella to the bowl with the dressing. Toss gently to combine.
- Serve. Allow a few minutes, then transfer the salad to a serving plates or a large platter and serve!
Let the salad sit for 30 minutes before serving!
Once you mix the salad, allow it to sit for a few minutes so the flavors meld and the bread can soak up a good bit of the dressing. How long? Some recipes will allow panzanella salad to sit for up to 4 hours before serving. But if you're like me, and you don't love a terribly soggy panzanella, then 20 to 30 minutes will do the trick. The bread will absorb the dressing and develop some good flavor without disintegrating and turning into mush.
Serve it with
Serve this sunny Tuscan bread salad during the warmer months when tomatoes are in season. It's lovely to enjoy on BBQ night with anything from grilled chicken to salmon kabobs. It's also a great starter to a fun Italian menu with anything including sundried tomato pasta, eggplant parmesan, chicken pesto, or Fish of your choice.
Panzanella can also be the perfect summer salad for your next BBQ with things like chicken kabobs, lamb burgers, or grilled shrimp.
Other tomato salads to try
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Simple Tomato Panzanella Recipe
Equipment
- Mixing bowl
- Sheet pan for toasting bread
Ingredients
- 5 oz or ½ loaf of a rustic Italian bread (I used Ciabatta) cut into 1-inch cubes
- Extra virgin olive oil
- Kosher salt
- 2 ¼ lb ripe tomatoes I used vine ripe tomatoes, cut into small wedges or cubes
- ¼ cup red wine vinegar
- 2 garlic cloves minced
- ½ teaspoon Dijon mustard
- 1 teaspoon fesh thyme optional
- Black pepper
- 2 Small shallots peeled and thinly sliced
- ½ cup packed fresh basil torn
- 4 oz fresh baby mozzarella optional (more to your liking)
Instructions
- Heat the oven to 400 degrees F.
- In a large mixing bowl, combine bread cubes with large drizzle of extra virgin olive oil and a generous pinch of kosher salt. Toss to make sure the bread is well coated (save the bowl for later use). Spread the bread cubes on a sheet pan and bake in heated oven for about 10 minutes or until golden (the edges should get crisp, while the bread gains some color and crisp but remains still a bit chewy).
- Place a large colander over the same mixing bowl. Place the tomatoes in the colander and sprinkle with kosher salt. Toss briefly with your hand. Set aside for a few minutes to allow the tomatoes to release their juices in the mixing bowl.
- When ready, move the colander with the tomatoes to the sink for now, and use the mixing bowl with the tomato juice to make the dressing. Add red wine, ½ cup extra virgin olive oil, garlic cloves, Dijon mustard, thyme, and a large pinch of black pepper. Whisk to combine.
- Add the tomatoes, bread cubes, shallots, basil and mozzarella (if using) to the mixing bowl and toss to coat with the dressing. Allow the salad to sit for 20 to 30 minutes before serving.
- Give the salad a gentle toss and transfer to a serving platter. Garnish with a few more fresh basil leaves, if you like.
Video
Notes
- Cook's Tip: It helps to cut the bread into cubes ahead of time and leave it out to dry for a few hours. Still, do not skip toasting the bread in the oven for a few minutes, this makes a big difference in texture and helps keep the salad from getting too soggy.
- Dressing variation: You can pair down the dressing if you prefer something simpler. A bit of extra virgin olive oil and red wine vinegar is essential, the rest is up to you.
- What kind of tomatoes to use? Any kind of tomatoes will work in tomato panzanella. I used vine ripe tomatoes here, but I love using an assortment of colorful heirloom tomatoes when they're in season. If you use small cherry or grape tomatoes, be sure to still cut them in halves to be able to use their juice in the dressing.
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Nutrition
*This post first appeared on The Mediterranean Dish in 2020 and has been updated with new information for readers' benefit.
How much of the tomato juice should you use when making the dressing? I had nearly a cup and the dressing was way too watery. Also, why are you drawing out all of the tomato juice and then adding it back in?
Added mozzarella and chicken breast. Delicious!!!! All hubby kept saying was ‘delicious!’ Thank you for a simple, scrumptious dinner!
I'm drooling just reading your recipes. Can't wait to get started.
What a great dinner. I didn't change a thing. Perfect for summer.
Oh. My. Days!!!!! I used part baked ciabatta rolls from Sainsbury’s (I’m in the UK), baked one, let it cool and then prepared as per the recipe. I made it on Friday and just ate the last (as an omelette filling, trust me it’s amazing) today, Sunday. I love this recipe sooooooo much, the bread absorbs the juices beautifully and retains its crunchy texture even after 2 days!
Thank you Suzy, I am literally living off your recipes at the moment!!
That's wonderful to hear, Lou! Thank you!
This recipe was quick and easy and very flavorful. I'll be adding this to our meal routine weekly since everyone loved it.
This is a fantastic recipe. The bread holds up well. The flavors, the textures, the visual presentation...all outstanding. I will 1000% make this again
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Please look into these issues.
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Hi, Marja. Thanks for the heads up. We'll definitely look into it. In the meantime, you may want to check your web browser settings. Some web browsers block pop ups which may affect the linking on our website. You may need to adjust your settings, or try a different browser on your end in order to get them to work.
Too much red wine vinegar in the dressing.
I have made this recipe countless times and my husband and I love it so much!! My only suggestion to the readers is to reserve some of the dressing and add it in as needed after all other ingredients are mixed in because sometimes the tomatoes can produce a lot of juice and it may become too soggy sometimes. Also, DON’T skip the fresh thyme! It really makes this recipe incredible! Thank you so much Suzy for this recipe!!
Would it turn out ok if I used store bought large toasted croutons? It’s just me, and I’m thinking instead of turning on the oven and preheating and just using it for 10 - 15 min., I could make an “on-the-fly” version. I could just let the croutons sit in the dressing for about 10 min before adding all the other ingredients. Do you think that could work?
Sure, JoAnn! I think that would be okay in a pinch.
Love, love, love! The breadcrumbs soaked up with the delicious dressing was divine. Didn’t have shallot so used red onion. I also added arugula after soaking time. U did say this was a healthy salad, right?🙃
Absolutely! lol!
Do not know how I iived this long and never tried this before! It is a keeper. I am ashamed to say that I made this when I knew I was going to be home alone so I didn't have to share!! My new guilty pleasure..
So glad you loved it, Isa!
This salad is DELICIOUS! It is great for summer. Suzy you are spot on when you say the juice of the tomato really comes through in the salad. Loved it!!!
Yay! Thanks, Lisa!
My absolute favourite salad. I make it all the time. Sometimes if I don't have mozzarella I use feta, which also works very well.
So good! Made this and had with your Sicilian fish stew with a Tuscan red wine and felt like I was in Italy😉
Absolutely delicious!! Can't stop eating it!! Thank you for this recipe. So delish with my husband's homemade bread!!
Ooo! I can imagine it's delicious with homemade bread! Thanks, Kathy!
If you love bruschetta you will love this salad because, basically, that's what this is - in salad form! Absolutely delicious. I've made it several times and we've eaten it alone because it's amazingly delicious and satisfying. Really tasty, easy and beautiful! Thanks for one more recipe added to our rotation!
Made this other night and was sooo delicious! I could not stop eating it 😉 Thank you for another great recipe!
My pleasure, Alexandra! Thanks for giving it a try!!
Hi what to substitute red wine viemnegar?apple cider?
You can try white wine vinegar here, if you like, or a combination of white distilled vinegar and lemon juice (white distilled vinegar is a bit strong). I would not use apple cider.
Hi there. I was wondering if you have ever made this in advance with waiting to add the bread 30 minutes prior to serving? Many thanks!
Hi Robin, I have not, but I think it could work if you like your salad a bit more on the marinated side. For me personally, I think 30 minutes for all of it is just right.