Italian bread salad, AKA panzanella, must have been invented as an ingenious and tasty way to use up day-old loaves. A simple, herb-scented salad that’s especially welcome in the warmer months, it almost goes without saying that for best results, use the most flavorful tomatoes you can find.
That’s part of the reason for the bread — to soak up the juices from the tomatoes. Make it more substantial by adding chickpeas or white beans to make this salad heftier and to give it some protein.
What to serve with Panzanella
Not surprisingly, this salad pairs well with Italian-inspired pasta dishes. Here are a few to consider:
- Pasta with Roasted Eggplant and Bell Peppers
- Garlicky Spaghetti with Zucchini Noodles
- Pasta with Leafy Greens Pesto
- Easy Gnocchi with Greens and Beans
Explore more …
- Savory and delicious olive recipes.
- Vegan Italian Recipes
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Italian Bread Salad with Tomatoes and Olives (Panzanella)
For best results, use the most flavorful tomatoes you can find for this Italian Bread and Tomato salad, AKA panzanella.
Ingredients
- 2 cups cubed (about 3/4 inch) Italian or French bread
- 1 pound flavorful diced ripe tomatoes or halved cherry tomatoes
- 1/4 chopped fresh basil or parsley, or a combination
- 1 cup pitted black olives
- 1/4 to 1/2 cup thinly sliced red onion
- 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
- 2 tablespoons red or white wine vinegar
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- Salt and freshly ground pepper to taste
Instructions
- Heat a wide nonstick skillet. Spray with cooking oil spray. Add the bread cubes and toast in the skillet for 10 to 15 minutes, stirring frequently, until golden and crisp.
- In a large serving bowl, combine the bread cubes with the tomatoes, basil, olives, and onion.
- Combine the olive oil, vinegar, and lemon juice in a small bowl and whisk together. Pour over the salad and toss together.
- Season with salt and pepper and serve at once.
Notes
Variations:
Add a sliced small fresh flavorful cucumber to the salad.
Add a 15-ounce can of chickpeas, drained and rinsed, drained and rinsed.
If you can find whole grain French or Italian bread, so much the better.
See lots more plant-forward salads & sides.
Photos (top and middle): Julijadm/Bigstock
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