5 from 75 votes
How to Make THE BEST Panzanella
Panzanella is a classic Italian bread salad featuring toasted sourdough, ripe tomatoes, cucumbers, and fresh basil, all tossed in a tangy dressing made with red wine vinegar, olive oil, garlic, and capers. The salad has a satisfying combination of crunchy toasted bread pieces softened slightly by the tomato juices, along with crisp vegetables and a bright herb finish. It’s best served shortly after mixing to enjoy the balance between textures and flavors at their peak.
Prep Time
15 mins
Cook Time
10 mins
Total Time
25 mins
Servings:
8
Calories:
203 kcal
Course:
Salad
Cuisine:
Italian
Ingredients
- ½ cup extra virgin olive oil divided, plus 2 tablespoons
- 3 garlic divided, cloves
- 6 cups sourdough bread 1-inch cubed
- 1 ½ pounds tomato any ripe, sweet tomato works, cut into 1-inch pieces
- ½ English cucumber seeded and cut into ½-inch pieces
- ½ cup red onion slivered
- 2 tablespoons capers
- ¼ cup red wine vinegar
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 teaspoon black pepper freshly ground
- ½ cup basil roughly torn or thinly sliced, fresh leaves
Instructions
- Add 2 tablespoons of olive oil to a large skillet with 1 clove slivered garlic. Bring to medium heat, cooking the garlic until it becomes fragrant and golden, then remove the garlic slivers from the oil and discard. Add the cubed sourdough to the skillet and toss to coat. Cook the bread until golden, about 5 minutes, then transfer to a plate and set aside to cool.
- In a large bowl, add the tomatoes, cucumbers, red onion, and capers with the cooled bread. In a small bowl, add the olive oil, red wine vinegar and use a garlic press to add the remaining garlic cloves into the bowl with the kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper. Whisk well and pour over the tomato mixture. Add the basil and toss to combine. Let stand at room temperature for 20-30 minutes before serving. This salad is best served the day it's made.
Cup of Yum
Nutrition Information
Calories
203kcal
(10%)
Carbohydrates
17g
(6%)
Protein
3g
(6%)
Fat
14g
(22%)
Saturated Fat
2g
(10%)
Polyunsaturated Fat
2g
(12%)
Monounsaturated Fat
10g
(50%)
Sodium
479mg
(20%)
Potassium
284mg
(6%)
Fiber
2g
(8%)
Sugar
4g
(8%)
Vitamin A
812IU
(16%)
Vitamin C
14mg
(16%)
Calcium
32mg
(3%)
Iron
1mg
(6%)
Nutrition Facts
Serving: 8 Serving
Amount Per Serving
Calories 203
% Daily Value*
| Calories | 203kcal | 10% |
| Carbohydrates | 17g | 6% |
| Protein | 3g | 6% |
| Fat | 14g | 22% |
| Saturated Fat | 2g | 10% |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 2g | 12% |
| Monounsaturated Fat | 10g | 50% |
| Sodium | 479mg | 20% |
| Potassium | 284mg | 6% |
| Fiber | 2g | 8% |
| Sugar | 4g | 8% |
| Vitamin A | 812IU | 16% |
| Vitamin C | 14mg | 16% |
| Calcium | 32mg | 3% |
| Iron | 1mg | 6% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.