Panzanella
Tuscan bread salad of ripe tomato, soaked crusts, basil, and vinegar.
Ingredients
- 1 Baguette
- 4 Tomato
- 1 Cucumber
- ½ Red onion
- 10 Basil
- 4 tbsp Extra-virgin olive oil
- 2 tbsp Balsamic vinegar
- ½ tsp Salt
Method
- Tear the bread into chunks and toast lightly, then let cool.
- Chop the tomatoes, cucumber, and red onion, salting the tomatoes to draw out juice.
- Toss the bread with the vegetables and their juices, the olive oil, and the balsamic.
- Rest for 10 minutes so the bread softens, then tear in the basil.
- Toss once more and serve.
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About Panzanella
Panzanella is a Tuscan bread salad, the celebrated example of Italian cucina povera that turns yesterday's loaf into something worth serving. At its heart it's ripe summer tomatoes, torn bread, and good oil, a dish built to make sure nothing goes to waste when the tomatoes are at their peak. What makes it more than a chopped salad is the interplay between the bread and the tomato juices — the crusts are there to drink up the seasoned liquid, not to stay crisp.
Salting the tomatoes first is the key step: it draws out their juice, which the bread then soaks up along with the olive oil and balsamic, so every chunk turns savoury and tender at the edges. A rest of ten minutes lets the flavours marry before the basil goes in, keeping it bright rather than bruised. The finished salad is fresh, tangy, and satisfying, with cool cucumber and sharp red onion cutting the richness of the oil. Naturally vegan, it's ideal warm-weather eating — a light lunch on its own or a partner to grilled vegetables and cheese.
Panzanella: frequently asked questions
How many calories are in Panzanella?
A serving has about 360 calories — 10.6g protein, 44.5g carbs, 16.4g fat, 4.4g fiber. Figures are estimated from the ingredient amounts and will shift with your portions and brands.
Is Panzanella gluten-free?
As written, no — it contains Baguette. You'd need a certified gluten-free swap for that ingredient to make it gluten-free.
How many servings does Panzanella make?
This recipe makes 4 servings. In the app you can scale it up or down and the ingredient amounts adjust automatically.