Panzanella Salad Recipe for the Tuscan Bread and Tomato Salad that Tastes of Summer in Italy
This easy panzanella salad recipe makes the delicious Tuscan style bread and tomato salad that tastes of summer in Italy. A bread salad with onions and cucumbers before tomatoes arrived in Italy, it made use of stale bread, the hallmark of povera cucina, the no-waste cooking of the countryside. A traditional recipe, it’s versatile – just don’t tell your Italian friends!
Servings: 2
Calories: 754kcal
Ingredients
- 1 large red onion or 4 small purple shallots chopped into wide pieces
- 6 medium ripe tomatoes cut into pieces around 2x2cm
- 4 small cucumbers cut into pieces around 2x2cm
- 250 g stale Tuscan bread ciabatta or sourdough, chopped into pieces around 2x2cm
- 4 tbsp extra virgin olive oil best quality you can source
- 2 tbsp red wine vinegar or sherry vinegar
- ½ tsp sea salt – or to taste
- ¼ tsp cracked black pepper – or to taste
- 1 bunch of fresh basil leaves Italian basil preferably
Instructions
- Soak the chopped onion in a bowl of cold water for 15 minutes if you’re not an onion lover.
- Spread the tomato pieces out onto a wooden chopping board or large plate and sprinkle with sea salt, then do the same with the cucumber, and let sit for 5 minutes.
- Transfer the pieces of stale bread to a big mixing bowl, then slide the tomatoes and cucumbers into the bowl, and drain the onions and add those, too.
- Pour the extra virgin olive oil and red wine vinegar evenly across the ingredients, then combine well.
- Taste, adjust the seasoning as you like, and add more olive oil and vinegar if you wish, then refrigerate until you’re ready to serve.
- Combine everything well again before transferring to a salad bowl or plate, garnish with fresh basil leaves after plating, so they don’t oxidise, and serve with a chilled crisp white wine.
Nutrition
Calories: 754kcal | Carbohydrates: 92g | Protein: 21g | Fat: 35g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 5g | Monounsaturated Fat: 21g | Trans Fat: 1g | Sodium: 1207mg | Potassium: 1957mg | Fiber: 15g | Sugar: 27g | Vitamin A: 3521IU | Vitamin C: 74mg | Calcium: 293mg | Iron: 7mg