Home > Salads > Panzanella Salad {With Video} Panzanella Salad {With Video} April 17, 2018 | 1 Comment SAVE TO RECIPE BOX Jump to Recipe This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy. The best panzanella salad recipe loaded with fresh veggies and topped with a delicious balsamic dressing Panzanella Salad I was craving a caprese type salad the other day and went into my kitchen to throw something together. I started with some tomatoes, fresh basil, and mozzarella. At that point I looked at what I had put together and thought “it needs a bit more…” A leftover corn on the cob? Yes. Avocados? Always. And then the best part: half of a slightly stale sourdough baguette. BREAD in a salad? YES. The result? A delicious Panzanella Salad that has quickly become one of our favorites! If you’ve never heard of a panzanella salad, it’s simply a chopped salad with bread and tomatoes added to it. It is often topped with an olive oil & vinegar dressing and is very popular in central Italy. Since throwing together that rather impromptu salad a few weeks ago, we’ve made it countless times and I’m so excited to finally be sharing it with you all. I mean, anytime a SALAD is mostly composed of bread, it really should be made and eaten frequently 🙂 My husband claims this panzanella salad to be his favorite salad ever and I’m not surprised because he’s obsessed with sourdough bread. I grab sourdough bread just about every single time I’m at the grocery store because he and the boys can finish a loaf in record speeds. On the rare occasion it isn’t eaten as quickly as it usually is, the slightly stale sourdough bread is absolutely perfect for this salad! Here are a few tips for the best panzanella salad: The optimal ratio for a perfect panzanella salad is 1/3 bread and 2/3rds the other good stuff! It’s okay to add some lettuce – I use a few leaves of butter lettuce, but arugula would also be delicious. Add the fresh herbs RIGHT before serving so they don’t get wilted. You can use whatever bread you have as long as it’s not a crustless bread (no brioche or challah). This panzanella salad tastes the best with bread that has a crunchy exterior and soft interior. You can cut the bread (I did for these pictures to get a more even appearance for the photos), but the best panzanella is made by tearing the bread into cubes. That way the dressing can get into all the uneven pieces of the bread. You can use stale bread OR toast fresh bread in the oven to dry it out. More Salad Recipes: Avocado and Orange Quinoa Salad Cucumber Salad Quinoa Black Bean Salad Cobb Salad Avocado, Citrus, and Beet Salad FOLLOW ALONG! Subscribe to my newsletter and follow along on Facebook, Pinterest and Instagram for the latest updates, recipes and content. Panzanella Salad 0 from 0 votes - Review this recipe The best simple panzanella salad with lots of fresh veggies and a delicious balsamic dressing SAVE TO RECIPE BOX Print Recipe Panzanella Salad 0 from 0 votes - Review this recipe SAVE TO RECIPE BOX Print Recipe The best simple panzanella salad with lots of fresh veggies and a delicious balsamic dressing Course Salad Cuisine Italian Keyword Panzanella Salad Prep Time 20 minutes Total Time 20 minutes Servings 4 -6 servings Calories 233kcal Author Chelsea IngredientsDressing2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar1 tablespoon red wine vinegar1 tablespoon Dijon mustard1 garlic clove, minced 1/4 cup (48g) olive oilFine sea salt and freshly cracked black pepperSalad1 sourdough baguette, torn into small cubes (~4 cups)2 tablespoons olive oil2 cups cherry tomatoes, halved1 cup cocktail tomatoes, quartered1 cup mozzarella balls (bocconcini), halved or quartered1 fresh corn on the cob, corn cut off1 large Hass avocado, sliced or chopped into bite sized pieces20 basil leaves, thinly sliced Optional: 1 small head of Bibb or Romaine lettuce, ripped into small piecesOptional 1 small lemon InstructionsPreheat the oven to 350 degrees F and adjust the rack to center position. If using a baguette, cut into 1-inch slices and then tear those slices into 4-6 pieces. Place on a large sheet pan and drizzle with 2 tablespoons olive oil. Toss. Bake until crisp and firm but not browned, about 15 minutes. Remove from oven and let cool.Meanwhile, for the vinaigrette, whisk all the ingredients together. Add salt and pepper to taste; (I add 1/8 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper) you can always add more salt and pepper to the salad overall. Place dressing in a mason jar in the fridge to chill while preparing the rest of the ingredients. Shake the dressing well right before pouring over the salad.In a large bowl, mix the halved cherry tomatoes, quartered cocktail tomatoes, halved or quartered mozzarella balls, the raw corn from the cob (we love it raw and crunchy, but it's also delicious cooked on the grill!), and ripped pieces of lettuce if desired. Add the completely cooled bread and the dressing to taste (you don't need to use all of it, add to preference) Toss the salad and let rest for 25-30 minutes, tossing occasionally, until the bread absorbs the dressing.Right before serving, add the sliced or chopped avocado, basil leaves, and any additional dressing. Season salad to taste with salt and pepper. Add a squeeze of fresh lemon if desired. Nutrition FactsCalories: 233kcal DID YOU MAKE THIS RECIPE? I love hearing from you when you've made one of my recipes! Tag me on Instagram at @ChelseasMessyApron or leave me a comment below.
