Panzanella

Filled with ripe, juicy tomatoes and crusty bread, this panzanella salad is a delicious summer meal. A shower of fresh basil takes it over the top.

Panzanella

This classic panzanella is one of the recipes I make most often throughout the summer. In this Tuscan bread salad, cubes of dry Italian bread mingle with juicy tomatoes, crisp cucumbers, and savory onions. A big handful of basil and a zingy vinaigrette tie it all together.

Panzanella has humble roots. It originated in the Tuscany region of Italy as a way to use up stale bread. But its simple ingredients create a salad that’s so much more than the sum of its parts. The dried-out bread soaks up the tomato juices and tangy dressing, softening and absorbing all that fresh summer flavor.

In July and August, I make this panzanella recipe as often as I can. This tomato bread salad is one of the best ways to celebrate peak tomato season. If you’re new to panzanella, I hope you’ll try it this summer. I think you’ll love it too!

Panzanella recipe ingredients

How to Make a Panzanella Salad

You can find the complete panzanella recipe with measurements below, but for now, here’s a quick overview of how it goes:

Start by drying out the bread in the oven.

Traditionally, panzanella is made with stale bread. But I’ve found that I like it best when I start with fresh bread cubes and toast them in the oven before adding them to the salad.

This way, you’re able to control the bread’s texture. It should be crisp around the edges and slightly soft in the middle. Of course, you can start with stale bread too—just adjust the bake time as necessary to reach the right texture!

  • Tip: Use good crusty bread. Great bread is essential for making a great panzanella. Make sure to use a good crusty loaf. I like ciabatta or sourdough.

Whisking dressing in salad bowl

Then, make the dressing.

At the bottom of a large bowl, whisk together olive oil, sherry or red wine vinegar, Dijon mustard, garlic, salt, and pepper to make the homemade dressing.

The dressing will taste sharp on its own, but that’s a good thing! The bread can soak up quite a bit of flavor, so we want the dressing to have a nice punch.

Cubes of bread in salad bowl with tomatoes, cucumbers, and onions

Toss together the salad.

Add the onion, tomatoes, cucumber, and bread to the bowl with the dressing and toss to coat. If you like, you can also add some torn fresh mozzarella cheese for creaminess. Add the basil and gently toss.

  • Tip: Use peak-season summer tomatoes. Fresh, ripe tomatoes are essential for a great panzanella. The sweeter and tangier they are, the more flavorful the dressing will be. I like to use a mix of heirloom tomatoes and cherry tomatoes.

Season to taste and serve!

This panzanella is great right after you toss it together. It’s even better when you let it sit for 30 minutes before serving, giving the toasted bread a chance to soak up the flavorful dressing and tomato juices.

But I don’t recommend making it more than a couple of hours in advance. If it sits for too long, the bread will get soggy.

Panzanella salad

What to Serve with Panzanella

Thanks to the hearty bread and mozzarella, this panzanella salad is a great lunch or light dinner on its own. If you’re looking for something to pair with it, I recommend grilled eggplant or zucchini to round out the meal. It would also go nicely with any protein you like.

Enjoy!

Panzanella recipe

More Favorite Summer Salads

If you love this panzanella recipe, try one of these fresh summer salads next:

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Panzanella

rate this recipe:
5 from 14 votes
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 25 minutes
Serves 6
This panzanella salad is a delicious summer meal or side dish! My biggest tip for this recipe is to use great tomatoes and great bread. There are only a few ingredients here, so the quality of each one counts.

Ingredients

  • ½ pound ciabatta or sourdough bread, cut into 1-inch cubes
  • 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
  • ½ cup thinly sliced red onion
  • 1½ pounds tomatoes, sliced into wedges or halved
  • ½ English cucumber, sliced into half moons
  • 6 ounces fresh mozzarella, torn (optional)
  • 1 cup fresh basil leaves, torn, plus more for garnish
  • Sea salt

For the dressing

Instructions

  • Preheat the oven to 350°F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Place the bread on the baking sheet, drizzle with the olive oil, and sprinkle with salt. Toss to coat and spread evenly on the sheet. Bake for 7 to 10 minutes, or until crisp around the edges.
  • Make the dressing: In a large bowl, whisk together the olive oil, vinegar, garlic, mustard, salt, and several grinds of pepper.
  • Add the onion, tomatoes, cucumber, and bread to the bowl with the dressing and toss to coat. Add the cheese, if using, and the basil and gently toss. Season to taste and serve with more fresh basil on top.

10 comments

5 from 14 votes (9 ratings without comment)

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Rate this recipe (after making it)




  1. Gwion Raven
    10.11.2024

    5 stars
    Simple, fun, and authentic.

  2. Donna
    07.17.2024

    5 stars
    What a wonderful recipe. I added a bit extra red wine vinegar and used only one clove of garlic. I also added some arugula. It was absolutely delicious and I will definitely be making it again!

    • Jeanine Donofrio
      07.18.2024

      That sounds delicious, I’m glad you enjoyed it!

  3. Kate
    03.24.2024

    5 stars
    Love this recipe! I don’t do dairy so I’ve gone without, used avocado in place of the mozzarella (I’m sure very un-traditional, but tastes delicious), and also used a good recipe for vegan mozzarella, and it’s great every time.

    • Jeanine Donofrio
      03.25.2024

      Hi Kate, I’m so glad you loved it!

  4. Sarah
    09.05.2023

    5 stars
    Fantastic! I added plums and fresh corn – and made it with balsamic as I was out of red wine vinegar. Really really delicious. Thanks!

  5. Julia
    06.19.2023

    5 stars
    My first time making panzanella! Loved the combination and using toasted bread. I added a peach which made it feel extra summery.

    • Jeanine Donofrio
      06.19.2023

      Hi Julia, I’m so glad you loved it!

  6. Barbara
    08.13.2022

    I just came in from outside and a panzanella lunch. One thing we do is to cube up the bread and toast in in a dry frying pan on the stovetop. Faster and doesn’t heat up the house. Today, our salad had fresh basil and cilantro from the garden as well as a few barely hot Serrano chilis, along with some fresh chopped spinach. Wonderful with the other ingredients you list above. Thanks for posting.

  7. Chris David
    07.12.2022

    Really delicious recipe. I love it yummy!!! It’s really awesome

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Photograph of Jeanine Donofrio and Jack Mathews in their kitchen

Hello, we're Jeanine and Jack.

We love to eat, travel, cook, and eat some more! We create & photograph vegetarian recipes from our home in Chicago, while our shiba pups eat the kale stems that fall on the kitchen floor.